westlandpublicationsltd

Amish is a 1974-born, IIM (Kolkata)-educated, boringbanker turnedhappy author.The success of hisdebut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up afourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing. He is passionate about history,mythologyandphilosophy,findingbeautyandmeaninginallworldreligions.Amish’sbookshavesoldmorethan4millioncopiesandhavebeentranslatedintoover19languages.

AmishlivesinMumbaiwithhiswifePreetiandsonNeel.

www.authoramish.comwww.facebook.com/authoramishwww.twitter.com/authoramish

OtherTitlesbyAmish

ShivaTrilogyTheImmortalsofMeluha(Book1oftheShivaTrilogy)

1900BC.TheinhabitantsofthatperiodknowthelandofMeluhaasanearperfectempirecreatedmanycenturiesearlierbyLordRam,oneofthegreatestmonarchsthateverlived.NowtheirprimaryriverSaraswatiisdrying,andtheyfaceterroristattacksfromtheirenemiesfrom

theeast.Willtheirlegendaryhero,theNeelkanth,emergetodestroyevil?

TheSecretoftheNagas(Book2oftheShivaTrilogy)

ThesinisterNagawarriorhaskilledBrahaspatiandnowstalksSati.Shiva,theprophesieddestroyerofevil,willnotresttillhefindshisdemonicadversary.FiercebattleswillbefoughtandunbelievablesecretsrevealedinthissecondbookoftheShivaTrilogy.

TheOathoftheVayuputras(Book3oftheShivaTrilogy)

Shivaisgatheringhisforces.HereachestheNagacapital,Panchavati,andEvilisfinallyrevealed.TheNeelkanthpreparesforaholywaragainsthistrueenemy.Willhesucceed?DiscovertheanswertothesemysteriesinthisconcludingpartofthebestsellingShivaTrilogy.

RamChandraSeriesRam—ScionofIkshvaku(Book1oftheSeries)

3400BCE.INDIAAterriblewarhastakenitstollandweakenedAyodhya.Thedamagerunsdeep.ThedemonKingofLanka,Raavan,doesnotimposehisruleonthedefeated.He,instead,imposeshistrade.Moneyissuckedoutoftheempire.Throughthesufferingthatpeopleendure,theydonot

realisethataleaderisamongthem.Anostracisedprince.AprincecalledRam.BeginanepicjourneywithAmish’sRamChandraSeries.

‘IwishmanymorewouldbeinspiredbyAmishTripathi…’–AmitabhBachchan,Indianactorandlivinglegend

‘AmishisIndia’sTolkien’–BusinessStandard

‘AmishisIndia’sfirstliterarypopstar’–ShekharKapur,renownedfilmmaker

‘Amishis…thePauloCoelhooftheeast.’–BusinessWorld

‘Amish’smythical imaginationmines the past and taps into the possibilities of the future.His bookseries, archetypal and stirring, unfolds the deepest recesses of the soul as well as our collectiveconsciousness.’

–DeepakChopra,world-renownedspiritualguruandbestsellingauthor

‘AmishisafreshnewvoiceinIndianwriting–steepedinmythandhistory,withafineeyefordetailandacompellingnarrativestyle.’

–ShashiTharoor,MemberofParliamentandcelebratedauthor

‘…Amishhasmasteredtheartofgathering,interpretingandpresentingIndia’smanymyths,folkloresandlegends,andblendingallofthatintofast-pacedthrillersthatchangeyourviewsaboutGods,cultures,histories,demonsandheroes,forever.’

–HiBlitz

‘Amish’sphilosophyoftolerance,hisunderstandingofmythologyandhisavowedadmirationforShivaareevidentinhisbest-sellingworks.’

–Verve

‘Tripathiispartofanemergingbandofauthorswhohavetakenupmythologyandhistoryinabigway,translatingbarefactsintodeliciousstories.’

–TheNewIndianExpress

‘…onemustcongratulateAmishonreintroducingHindumythologytotheyouthofthiscountry.’–FirstCity

SitaWarriorofMithila

Book2ofthe

RamChandraSeries

Amish

westlandpublicationsltd

61,IIFloor,SilverlineBuilding,AlapakkamMainRoad,Maduravoyal,Chennai60009593,IFloor,ShamlalRoad,Daryaganj,NewDelhi110002www.westlandbooks.in

Firste-pubedition:2017

Publishedbywestlandpublicationsltd2017

Copyright©AmishTripathi2017

Allrightsreserved

AmishTripathiassertsthemoralrighttobeidentifiedastheauthorofthiswork.

Thisisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,placesandincidentsareeithertheproductoftheauthor’simaginationorareusedfictitiouslyandanyresemblancetoanyactualpersonlivingordead,eventsandlocalesisentirelycoincidental.

978-93-86224-58-3

CoverConceptandDesignbySideways

IllustrationbyArthatstudio

InsidebookformattingandtypesettingbySÜRYA,NewDelhi

Thisbookissoldsubjecttotheconditionthatitshallnot,byanywayoftradeorotherwise,belent,resold,hiredout,orotherwisecirculatedwithouttheauthor’spriorwrittenconsent,inanyformofbindingorcoverotherthanthatinwhichitispublishedandwithoutasimilarconditionincludingthisconditionbeingimposedonthesubsequentpurchaserandwithoutlimitingtherightsundercopyrightreservedabove,nopartofthispublicationmaybe reproduced, stored inor introduced intoa retrieval system,or transmitted in any formorbyanymeans (electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise),without the priorwritten permissionof the copyright owner, except in the case of briefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesorreviewswithappropriatecitations.

ToHimanshuRoyMybrother-in-law,

AmanwhoexemplifiestheancientIndianpathofBalance,AproudLordGaneshdevoteewhoalsorespects

allotherfaiths,AsincereIndianpatriot,

Amanwithwisdom,courage,andhonour.Ahero.

OmNamahShivāyaTheuniversebowstoLordShiva.

IbowtoLordShiva.

FromtheAdbhutaRāmāyana(creditedtoMaharishiValmikiji)

Yadāyadāhidharmasyaglanirbhavatisuvrata|Abhyutthānamadharmasyatadāprakrtṛsambhavaḥ||

Okeeperofrighteousvows,rememberthis,Wheneverdharmaisindecline,Orthereisanupsurgeofadharma;TheSacredFemininewillincarnate.

Shewilldefenddharma.Shewillprotectus.

Contents

ListofCharactersandImportantTribesNoteontheNarrativeStructureAcknowledgementsChapter1Chapter2Chapter3Chapter4Chapter5Chapter6Chapter7Chapter8Chapter9Chapter10Chapter11Chapter12Chapter13Chapter14Chapter15Chapter16Chapter17Chapter18Chapter19Chapter20Chapter21Chapter22Chapter23Chapter24Chapter25Chapter26Chapter27Chapter28Chapter29Chapter30Chapter31Chapter32OtherTitlesbyAmish

ListofCharactersandImportantTribes(InAlphabeticOrder)

Arishtanemi:MilitarychiefoftheMalayaputras;right-handmanofVishwamitraAshwapati:KingofthenorthwesternkingdomofKekaya;fatherofKaikeyiandaloyalallyofDashrathBharat:Ram’shalf-brother;sonofDashrathandKaikeyiDashrath:ChakravartikingofKosalaandemperoroftheSaptSindhu;husbandofKaushalya,Kaikeyi,andSumitra;fatherofRam,Bharat,LakshmanandShatrughanHanuman:Radhika’scousin;sonofVayuKesari;aNagaandamemberoftheVayuputratribeJanak:KingofMithila;fatherofSitaandUrmilaJatayu:AcaptainoftheMalayaputratribe;NagafriendofSitaandRamKaikeyi:DaughterofKingAshwapatiofKekaya;thesecondandfavouritewifeofDashrath;motherofBharatKaushalya:DaughterofKingBhanumanofSouthKosalaandhiswifeMaheshwari;theeldestqueenofDashrath;motherofRamKumbhakarna:Raavan’sbrother;alsoaNagaKushadhwaj:KingofSankashya;youngerbrotherofJanakLakshman:OneofthetwinsonsofDashrath;borntoSumitra;faithfultoRam;latermarriedtoUrmilaMalayaputras:ThetribeleftbehindbyLordParshuRam,thesixthVishnuManthara:TherichestmerchantoftheSaptSindhuMara:AnindependentassassinforhireNaarad:AtraderfromLothal;Hanuman’sfriendNagas:HumanbeingsbornwithdeformitiesRaavan:KingofLanka;brotherofVibhishan,ShurpanakhaandKumbhakarnaRadhika:Sita’sfriend;Hanuman’scousinRam:SonofEmperorDashrathofAyodhya(capitalcityofKosala)andhiseldestwifeKaushalya;eldestoffourbrothers,latermarriedtoSitaSamichi:PoliceandprotocolchiefofMithilaShatrughan:TwinbrotherofLakshman;sonofDashrathandSumitraShurpanakha:Half-sisterofRaavanShvetaketu:Sita’steacherSita:AdopteddaughterofKingJanakandQueenSunainaofMithila;alsotheprimeministerofMithila;latermarriedtoRam

Sumitra:Daughterof thekingofKashi; the thirdwifeofDashrath;motherof the twinsLakshmanandShatrughanSunaina:QueenofMithila;motherofSitaandUrmilaVali:ThekingofKishkindhaVarunRatnakar:Radhika’sfather;chiefoftheValmikisVashishtha:Rajguru,theroyalpriestofAyodhya;teacherofthefourAyodhyaprincesVayuKesari:Hanuman’sfather;Radhika’suncleVayuputras:ThetribeleftbehindbyLordRudra,thepreviousMahadevVibhishan:Half-brotherofRaavanVishwamitra:ChiefoftheMalayaputras,thetribeleftbehindbyLordParshuRam,thesixthVishnu;alsotemporaryguruofRamandLakshmanUrmila:YoungersisterofSita;blood-daughterofJanakandSunaina;latermarriedtoLakshman

NoteontheNarrativeStructure

Thankyouforpickingupthisbookandgivingmethemostimportantthingyoucanshare:yourtime.Iknowthisbookhastakenlongtorelease,andforthatIoffermyapologies.ButwhenI tellyouthe

narrativestructureoftheRamChandraSeries,perhapsyouwillunderstandwhyittooksolong.I have been inspired by a storytelling technique called hyperlink, which some call the multilinear

narrative.Insuchanarrative, therearemanycharacters;andaconnectionbringsthemall together.Thethreemain characters in the RamChandra Series are Ram, Sita, andRaavan. Each character has lifeexperienceswhichmouldwhotheyareandtheirstoriesconvergewiththekidnappingofSita.Andeachhastheirownadventureandrivetingback-story.So,while the firstbookexplored the taleofRam, thesecondand thirdwillofferaglimpse into the

adventures of Sita and then Raavan respectively, before all three stories merge from the fourth bookonwardsintoasinglestory.

I knew itwould be a complicated and time consuming affair, but Imust confess, itwas thoroughlyexciting. I hope this will be as rewarding and thrilling an experience for you as it was for me.Understanding Sita andRaavan as characters helpedme inhabit theirworlds and explore themaze ofplotsandstoriesthatmakethisepiccomealive.Ifeeltrulyblessedforthis.Sincethiswastheplan,Ihadleftcluesinthefirstbook(Ram–ScionofIkshvaku)whichwilltieup

withthestoriesinthesecondandthirdbooks.Needlesstosay,therearesurprisesandtwistsinstoreforyouinbooks2and3aswell!Infact,therewasaverybigclueinthelastparagraphofRam–ScionofIkshvaku.Somehadcaught

ontoit.Andforthosewhodidn’t,abigrevelationawaitsyouinthefirstchapterofthesecondbook,Sita–WarriorofMithila.I hopeyou like readingSita–WarriorofMithila.Do tellmewhat you thinkof it, by sendingme

messagesonmyFacebookorTwitteraccountslistedbelow.Love,Amish

www.facebook.com/authoramish

www.twitter.com/authoramish

Acknowledgements

Whenonewrites,onepoursone’ssouloutonpaper.Theysayittakescouragetodothat.Theyalsosaythatcouragecomesonlywhenoneknowsthatmanystandwithhim.I’dliketoacknowledgethosewhostandwithme:Whogivemecourage:WhomakemerealisethatIamnotalone.Neel,my8-year-old son,mypride and joy.He reads a lot already. I can’twait forhim to readmy

books!Preeti,mywife;Bhavna,mysister;Himanshu,mybrother-in-law;AnishandAshish,mybrothers,for

alltheirinputstothestory.Theyreadthefirstdraft,usuallyaseachchapteriswritten.AndIdiscussmanyof thephilosophieswith them indetail. I alsowrotemuchof thisbook inAnishandMeeta’shouse inDelhi.Imusthavedonesomethinggoodinmypreviouslifetobeblessedwiththeserelationships.Therestofmyfamily:Usha,Vinay,Meeta,Donetta,Shernaz,Smita,Anuj,Ruta.For theirconsistent

faithandlove.Sharvani,myeditor.SheisascommittedtomystoriesasIam.SheisasstubbornasIam.Shereadsa

lot,justlikeIdo.She’sastechnologically-challengedasIam.Wemusthavebeensiblingsinapreviouslife!Gautam, Krishnakumar, Neha, Deepthi, Satish, Sanghamitra, Jayanthi, Sudha, Vipin, Srivats,

Shatrughan,Sarita,Arunima,Raju,Sanyog,Naveen, Jaisankar,Sateesh,Divya,Madhu,SathyaSridhar,Christina,PreetiandthefantasticteamatWestland,mypublisher.Inmyhumbleopinion,theyarethebestpublisherinIndia.Anuj,myagent.Afriendandapartnerfromtheverybeginning.Abhijeet, an old friend and senior corporate executive, who worked with Westland to drive the

marketingeffortsforthisbook.Themanisbrilliant!MohanandMehul,mypersonalmanagers,whomanageeverythingsothatIcanhavethetimetowrite.Abhijit,Sonali,Shruti,Roy,Kassandra,Joshua,Purva,Nalin,Nivedita,Neha,Nehal,andtheteamat

Sideways, an exceptional company that applies creativity across all aspects of a business. Sidewayshelped formulate the business and marketing strategy for the book. They’ve also made most of themarketingmaterial, including thecover.WhichI think isoneof thebestcovers Ihaveeverseen.Theywere helped in the cover design by the Arthat team (Jitendra, Deval, Johnson) who are thoroughlyoutstandingdesigners.Mayank,PriyankaJain,Deepika,Naresh,Vishaal,Danishand theMoe’sArt team,whohavedriven

mediarelationsandmarketingalliancesforthebook.TheyhavebeenstrongpartnersandamongthebestagenciesIhaveworkedwith.Hemal,NehaandtheOktobuzzteam,whohavehelpedmanagemanyofthesocialmediaactivitiesfor

thebook.Hardworking,supersmartandintenselycommitted.Theyareanassettoanyteam.MrunaliniandVrushali,Sanskritscholars,whoworkwithmeonresearch.Mydiscussionswiththem

areenlightening.WhatIlearnfromthemhelpsmedevelopmanytheorieswhichgointothebooks.Andlast,butcertainlynottheleast,you,thereader.ItisonlyduetoyoursupportthatIhavebeengiven

theprivilegeoflivingthekindoflifeIdo;whereIcandowhatIloveandactuallyearnmylivingfromit.Icanneverthankyouenough!

Chapter1

3400BCE,somewhereneartheGodavariRiver,India

Sitacutquicklyandefficiently,slicingthroughthethickleafstemswithhersharpknife.Thedwarfbananatreeswereastallasshewas.Shedidnotneedtostretch.Shestoppedandlookedatherhandiwork.ThenshecastalookatMakrant,theMalayaputrasoldier,ashortdistanceaway.HehadcutdownperhapshalfthenumberofleavesthatSitahad.Theweatherwascalm.Justalittlewhileago,thewindhadbeenhowlingthroughthispartoftheforest.

Unseasonal rainhad lashed thearea.SitaandMakranthadstoodundera thickcanopyof trees tosavethemselvesfromtherain.Thewindshadbeensoloudthatithadbeenalmostimpossibleforthemtotalkto each other. And just as suddenly, calm had descended. The rain and winds had vanished. They’dquicklyheadedtoapatchofthewoodswithanabundanceofdwarfbananatrees.Fortheentirepurposeoftheexcursionwastofindtheseleaves.‘That’senough,Makrant,’saidSita.Makrantturnedaround.Thewetnesshadmadeithardtocuttheleafstems.Underthecircumstances,he

hadthoughtthathehaddoneagoodjob.Now,helookedatthestackofleavesbySita’sside.Andthendownathisownmuchsmallerpile.Hesmiledsheepishly.Sitasmiledbroadlyinreturn.‘That’smorethanenough.Let’sgobacktothecamp.RamandLakshman

shouldbereturningfromtheirhuntsoon.Hopefully,theywouldhavefoundsomething.’Sita,alongwithherhusbandPrinceRamofAyodhyaandherbrother-in-lawLakshman,hadbeenracing

throughtheDandakaranya,orforestofDandak,toescapetheexpectedvengeanceofthedemon-kingofLanka,Raavan.CaptainJatayu,leadingasmallcompanyoftheMalayaputratribe,hadsworntoprotectthe threeAyodhya royals.He had strongly advised that flightwas the only available course of action.Raavanwouldcertainlysendtroopstoavengehissister,PrincessShurpanakha,whohadbeeninjuredbyLakshman.Secrecywasessential.So,theywerecookingtheirfoodinpitsdugdeepintotheground.Forfire,they

used a specific type of coal— anthracite. It let out smokeless flames. For abundant caution, the sunkcookingpotwascoveredwithathicklayerofbananaleaves.Itensuredthatnosmokeescapedevenbyaccident.Forthatcouldgivetheirpositionaway.Itwasfor thisreasonthatSitaandMakranthadbeencuttingdownbananaleaves.ItwasSita’sturntocook.Makrantinsistedoncarryingthelargerpile,andshelethim.ItmadetheMalayaputrasoldierfeellike

hewasbalancinghiscontribution.ButitwasthisactthatwouldeventuallyprovefatalforpoorMakrant.Sitahearditfirst.Asoundthatwouldhavebeeninaudiblealittlewhileago,withthehowlingwinds.It

wasunmistakablenow:themenacingcreakofabowbeingstretched.Acommonbow.Manyofthemoreaccomplished soldiers and senior officers used themore expensive composite bows.But the frontlinesoldiersusedthecommonvariety,madeentirelyofwood.Thesebowswereusuallymorerigid.And,theymadeadistinctsoundwhenstretched.‘Makrant,duck!’screamedSita,droppingtheleavesassheleapttotheground.Makrant responded quickly enough, but the heavier loadmade him trip. An arrow shot in quickly,

slamming into his right shoulder as he fell forward.Before he could react, a second arrow struck his

throat.Aluckyshot.Sitarolledasshefelltothegroundandquicklysteadiedherselfbehindatree.Shestayedlow,herback

against the tree,protectedfornow.Shelookedtoherright.TheunfortunateMakrant layontheground,drowningrapidlyinhisownblood.Thearrowpointhadexitedthroughthebackofhisneck.Hewouldsoonbedead.Sitacursedinanger.Andthenrealiseditwasawasteofenergy.Shebegantobreathedeeply.Calming

her heart down. Paying attention. She looked around carefully.Nobody ahead of her. The arrows hadcomefromtheotherdirection,obscuredbythetreethatprotectedher.Sheknewtherehadtobeatleasttwoenemies.Therewasnowayasinglearchercouldhaveshottwoarrowsinsuchrapidsuccession.ShelookedatMakrantagain.Hehadstoppedmoving.Hissoulhadmovedon.Thejunglewaseerily

quiet. Itwasalmost impossible tobelieve that justa fewshortmomentsago,brutalviolencehadbeenunleashed.Farewell,braveMakrant.Mayyoursoulfindpurposeonceagain.Shecaughtsnatchesofcommandswhisperedinthedistance.‘Goto…LordKumbhakarna…Tell…

she’s…here…’Sheheardthehurriedfootstepsofsomeonerushingaway.Therewasprobablyjustoneenemynow.She

lookeddownattheearthandwhispered,‘Helpme,mother.Helpme.’Shedrewherknifefromthescabbardtiedhorizontallytothesmallofherback.Sheclosedhereyes.

Shecouldn’taffordtolookaroundthetreeandexposeherself.Shewouldprobablybeshotinstantly.Hereyeswere useless. She had to rely on her ears.Therewere great archerswho could shoot arrowsbyrelyingonsound.Butveryfewcouldthrowknivesatthesourceofasound.Sitawasoneofthoseveryfew.Sheheardaloudyetsurprisinglygentlevoice.‘Comeout,PrincessSita.Wedon’twanttohurtyou.It’s

betterif…’Thevoicestoppedmid-sentence.Itwouldnotbeheardeveragain.Fortherewasaknifeburiedinthe

throatthathadbeenthesourceofthatvoice.Sitahad,withoutbringingherselfintoview,turnedquicklyandflungtheknifewithunerringanddeadlyaccuracy.TheLankansoldierwasmomentarilysurprisedastheknifethumpedintohisthroat.Hediedinnotime.JustlikeMakranthad,drowninginhisownblood.Sitawaited.Shehadtobesuretherewasnooneelse.Shehadnootherweapon.Butherenemiesdidn’t

knowthat.Shelistenedintently.Hearingnosound,shethrewherselftotheground,rollingrapidlybehindlowshrubs.Stillnosignofanyone.Move!Move!There’snobodyelse!Sitaquicklyrosetoherfeetandsprintedto theslainLankan,surprisedthathisbowwasnotnocked

withanarrow.Shetriedtopullherknifeout,butitwaslodgedtoodeepinthedeadLankan’svertebra.Itrefusedtobudge.Thecampisintrouble!Move!SitapickeduptheLankan’squiver.Itcontainedafewarrows.Shequicklytieditaroundherbackand

shoulder.Sheliftedthebow.Andran.Ranhard!Towardsthetemporarycamp.ShehadtokilltheotherLankansoldierbeforehereachedhisteamandwarnedthem.

Thetemporarycampshowedsignsofamassivestruggle.MostoftheMalayaputrasoldiers,exceptJatayuandtwoothers,werealreadydead.Lyinginpoolsofblood.Theyhadbeenruthlesslymassacred.Jatayuwasalsobadlyinjured.Bloodseepedoutfromnumerouswoundsthatcoveredhisbody.Somemadebyblades,somebyfists.Hisarmsweretiedtightlybehindhisback.TwoLankansoldiersheldhimupinatightgrip.Agiantofamanloomedinfront,questioningthegreatNaga.

Nagawas thenamegiven topeopleof theSaptSindhubornwithdeformities.Jatayu’smalformationgavehisfacetheappearanceofavulture.TheothertwoMalayaputraskneltontheground,alsobloodied.Theirhandsweresimilarlytiedatthe

back.ThreeLankansoldierssurroundedeachone,whiletwomoreheldthemdown.TheLankanswordsweredrippingwithblood.Raavan and his younger brother, Kumbhakarna, stood at a distance. Looking intently at the

interrogation.Focused.Theirhandscleanofanyblood.‘Answerme,Captain,’barkedtheLankan.‘Wherearethey?’Jatayushookhisheadvehemently.Hislipsweresealed.TheLankanleanedwithinaninchoftheNaga’searandwhispered,‘Youwereoneofus,Jatayu.You

wereloyaltoLordRaavanonce.’JatayucastamalevolentlookattheLankan.Hissmoulderingeyesgavethereply.TheLankancontinued.‘Wecanforgetthepast.Telluswhatwewanttoknow.AndcomebacktoLanka

withhonour.ThisisthewordofaLankan.ThisisthewordofCaptainKhara.’Jatayulookedawayandstaredintothedistance.Angerfading.Ablankexpressiononhisface.Asifhis

mindwassomewhereelse.TheLankaninterrogatorsignalledoneofhissoldiers.‘Asyoucommand,CaptainKhara,’saidthesoldier,wipinghisswordcleanonhisforearmbandand

slipping itback intohis scabbard.Hewalkedup toan injuredMalayaputra,anddrewouthis serratedknife. He positioned himself behind the youth, yanked his head back and placed the knife against histhroat.ThenhelookedatKhara,awaitingtheorder.KharatookholdofJatayu’sheadsuchthathiseyesstareddirectlyathisfellowMalayaputra.Theknife

athisthroat.‘Youmaynotcareforyourownlife,CaptainJatayu,’saidKhara,‘butdon’tyouwanttosaveatleast

twoofyoursoldiers?’TheMalayaputralookedatJatayuandshouted,‘Iamreadytodie,myCaptain!Don’tsayanything!’TheLankanhit theyoungsoldier’sheadwith theknifehilt.Hisbodyslouchedand thenstraightened

againwithcourage.Thebladeswiftlyreturnedtohisthroat.Khara spokewith silky politeness, ‘Comeon,Captain. Save your soldier’s life.Tell uswhere they

are.’‘Youwillnevercatchthem!’growledJatayu.‘Thethreeofthemarelonggone!’Kharalaughed.‘ThetwoprincesofAyodhyacankeepgoing,forallIcare.Weareonlyinterestedin

theVishnu.’Jatayuwasshocked.Howdotheyknow?‘WhereistheVishnu?’askedKhara.‘Whereisshe?’Jatayu’slipsbegantomove,butonlyinprayer.Hewasprayingforthesoulofhisbravesoldier.Kharagaveacurtnod.JatayusuddenlystraightenedandloudlyrenttheairwiththeMalayaputracry.‘JaiParshuRam!’‘JaiParshuRam!’shoutedboththeMalayaputras.Thefearofdeathcouldnottouchthem.TheLankanpressedthebladeintothethroatoftheMalayaputra.Slowly.Heslidtheserratedknifeto

theside,inflictingmaximumpain.Bloodspurtedoutinashower.Astheyouthcollapsedtotheground,lifeslowlyebbingoutofhim,Jatayuwhisperedwithintheconfinesofhismind.Farewell,mybravebrother…

Sitaslowedassheapproachedthecamp.ShehadalreadykilledtheotherLankansoldier.Helaysome

distanceaway.Anarrowpiercedinhisheart.Shehadgrabbedhisarrowsandaddedthemtoherquiver.Shehidbehinda treeandsurveyedthecamp.Lankansoldierswereeverywhere.Probablymore thanahundred.AlltheMalayaputrasoldiersweredead.AllexceptJatayu.Twolayclosetohim,theirheadsarchedat

oddangles.Surroundedbylargepoolsofblood.Jatayuwasonhisknees,heldbytwoLankans.Hishandsweretiedbehindhisback.Brutalised,injuredandbleeding.Butnotbroken.Hewasdefiantlystaringintothedistance.Kharastoodnearhim,hisknifeplacedonJatayu’supperarm.Heranhisknifegentlyalongthetriceps,cuttingintotheflesh,drawingblood.SitalookedatKharaandfrowned.Iknowhim.WherehaveIseenhimbefore?Kharasmiledasherantheknifebackalongthebloodiedlinehehadjustdrawn,slicingdeepintosome

sinew.‘Answerme,’saidKhara,asheslidtheknifealongJatayu’scheekthistime,drawingsomemoreblood.

‘Whereisshe?’Jatayuspatathim.‘Killmequickly.Orkillmeslowly.Youwillnotgetanythingfromme.’Khararaisedhisknifeinanger,abouttostrikeandfinishthejob.Itwasnottobe.Anarrowwhizzedin

andstruckhishand.Theknifefelltothegroundashescreamedaloud.Raavan andhis brotherKumbhakarnawhirled around, startled.ManyLankan soldiers rushed in and

formedaprotectivecordonaround the two royals.KumbhakarnagrabbedRaavan’sarm to restrainhisimpulsiveelderbrother.OthersoldiersraisedtheirbowsandpointedtheirarrowsinthedirectionofSita.Aloud‘Don’tshoot!’

washeardfromKumbhakarna.Thebowswereswiftlylowered.Kharabroketheshaft,leavingthearrowheadburiedinhishand.Itwouldstemthebloodforawhile.

Helookedintotheimpenetrablelineoftreesthearrowhademergedfrom,andscoffedindisdain.‘Whoshotthat?Thelong-sufferingprince?Hisoversizedbrother?OrtheVishnuherself?’AstunnedSitastoodrootedtothespot.Vishnu?!HowdotheLankansknow?Whobetrayedme?!Shemarshalledhermindintothepresentmoment.Thiswasnotthetimefordistractions.Shemovedquickly,withoutasound,toanotherlocation.TheymustnotknowthatI’malone.‘Comeoutandfightlikerealwarriors!’challengedKhara.Sitawassatisfiedwithhernewposition.Itwassomedistanceawayfromwhereshehadshotherfirst

arrow.Sheslowlypulledanotherarrowoutofherquiver,nockeditonthebowstringandtookaim.IntheLankanarmy,ifthecommanderfell,therestoftheforcewasknowntoquicklyretreat.ButRaavanwaswellprotectedbyhissoldiers,theirshieldsraisedhigh.Shecouldnotfindanadequatelineofsight.WishRamwashere.Hewouldhavegottenanarrowthroughsomehow.Sitadecidedtolauncharapid-fireattackonthesoldierstocreateanopening.Shefiredfivearrowsin

quick succession. Five Lankanswent down.But the others did not budge. The cordon aroundRaavanremainedresolute.Readytofallfortheirking.Raavanremainedprotected.Somesoldiersbegantoruninherdirection.Shequicklymovedtoanewlocation.Asshetookposition,shecheckedthequiver.Threearrowsleft.Damn!Sitadeliberatelysteppedonatwig.Someofthesoldiersrushedtowardsthesound.Shequicklymoved

again,hopingtofindabreachintheprotectivecircleofmenaroundRaavan.ButKharawasalotsmarterthanshehadsuspected.TheLankansteppedbackand,usinghisuninjuredlefthand,pulledoutaknifefromthesoleofhisshoe.

HemovedbehindJatayuandheldtheknifetotheNaga’sthroat.Withamaniacalsmileplayingonhislips,Kharataunted,‘Youcouldhaveescaped.Butyoudidn’t.So

I’mbettingyouareamongthosehidingbehindthetrees,greatVishnu.’Kharalaidsarcasticemphasisontheword‘great’.‘And,youwanttoprotectthosewhoworshipyou.Soinspiring…sotouching…’Kharapretendedtowipeawayatear.SitastaredattheLankanwithunblinkingeyes.Kharacontinued,‘SoIhaveanoffer.Stepforward.Tellyourhusbandandthatgiantbrother-in-lawof

yours toalsostep forward.Andwewill let thiscaptain live.Wewill even let the twosorryAyodhyaprincesleaveunharmed.Allwewantisyoursurrender.’Sitaremainedstationary.Silent.KharagrazedtheknifeslowlyalongJatayu’sneck,leavingbehindathinredline.Hespokeinasing-

songmanner,‘Idon’thaveallday…’Suddenly,Jatayustruckbackwardswithhishead,hittingKharainhisgroin.AstheLankandoubledup

inpain,Jatayuscreamed,‘Run!Runaway,MyLady!Iamnotworthyourlife!’ThreeLankansoldiersmovedinandpushedJatayutotheground.Kharacursedloudlyashegotback

onhisfeet,stillbentovertoeasethepain.Afterafewmoments,heinchedtowardstheNagaandkickedhimhard.Hesurveyedthetreeline,turningineverydirectionthatthearrowshadbeenfiredfrom.Allthewhile,hekeptkickingJatayuagainandagain.HebentandroughlypulledJatayutohisfeet.Sitacouldseethecaptivenow.Clearly.ThistimeKharaheldJatayu’sheadfirmlywithhisinjuredrighthand,topreventanyheadbutting.The

sneerwasbackonhisface.Heheldtheknifewithhisotherhand.HeplaceditattheNaga’sthroat.‘Icancut the jugular here and your precious captainwill be dead in just a fewmoments, greatVishnu.’HemovedtheknifetotheMalayaputra’sabdomen.‘Or,hecanbleedtodeathslowly.Allofyouhavesometimetothinkaboutit.’Sitawasstill.Shehadjustthreearrowsleft.Itwouldbefoolhardytotryanything.Butshecouldnotlet

Jatayudie.Hehadbeenlikeabrothertoher.‘AllwewantistheVishnu,’yelledKhara.‘Lethersurrenderandtherestofyoucanleave.Youhave

myword.YouhavethewordofaLankan!’‘Lethimgo!’screamedSita,stillhiddenbehindthetrees.‘Stepforwardandsurrender,’saidKhara,holdingtheknifetoJatayu’sabdomen.‘Andwewilllethim

go.’Sita lookeddownandclosedhereyes.Hershouldersslumpedwithhelplessrage.Andthen,without

givingherselfanytimeforsecondthoughts,shesteppedout.Butnotbeforeherinstinctsmadehernockanarrowonthebow,readytofire.‘Great Vishnu,’ sniggered Khara, letting go of Jatayu for a moment, and running his hand along an

ancientscaratthebackofhishead.Stirringanot-so-forgottenmemory.‘Sokindofyoutojoinus.Whereisyourhusbandandhisgiantbrother?’Sita didn’t answer. SomeLankan soldiers beganmoving slowly towards her. She noticed that their

swordsweresheathed.Theywerecarryinglathis,longbamboosticks,whichweregoodenoughtoinjurebutnottokill.Shesteppedforwardandloweredthebow.‘Iamsurrendering.LetCaptainJatayugo.’KharalaughedsoftlyashepushedtheknifedeepintoJatayu’sabdomen.Gently.Slowly.Hecutthrough

theliver,akidney,neverstopping…‘Nooo!’screamedSita.SheraisedherbowandshotanarrowdeepintoKhara’seye.Itpuncturedthe

socketandlodgeditselfinhisbrain,killinghiminstantly.‘Iwantheralive!’screamedKumbhakarnafrombehindtheprotectiveLankancordon.MoresoldiersjoinedthosealreadymovingtowardSita,theirbamboolathisheldhigh.‘Raaaam!’ shouted Sita, as she pulled another arrow from her quiver, quickly nocked and shot it,

bringinganotherLankandowninstantly.Itdidnotslowthepaceoftheothers.Theykeptrushingforward.

Sitashotanotherarrow.Herlast.OnemoreLankansanktotheground.Theotherspressedon.‘Raaaam!’TheLankanswerealmostuponher,theirbamboolathisraised.‘Raaam!’screamedSita.AsaLankanclosedin,shelassoedherbow,entanglinghislathiwiththebowstring,snatchingitfrom

him.Sitahit backwith thebamboo lathi, straight at theLankan’s head, knocking himoff his feet. Sheswirled the lathi over her head, its menacing sound halting the suddenly wary soldiers. She stoppedmoving,holdingherweaponsteady.Conservingherenergy.Readyandalert.Onehandheldthestickinthemiddle,theendofittuckedunderherarmpit.Theotherarmwasstretchedforward.Herfeetspreadwide,inbalance.ShewassurroundedbyatleastfiftyLankansoldiers.Buttheykepttheirdistance.‘Raaaam!’ bellowed Sita, praying that her voice would somehow carry across the forest to her

husband.‘Wedon’twant tohurtyou,LadyVishnu,’ saidaLankan, surprisinglypolite. ‘Pleasesurrender.You

willnotbeharmed.’SitacastaquickglanceatJatayu.Ishestillbreathing?‘WehavetheequipmentinourPushpakVimaantosavehim,’saidtheLankan.‘Don’tforceustohurt

you.Please.’Sitafilledherlungswithairandscreamedyetagain,‘Raaaam!’Shethoughtsheheardafaintvoicefromalongdistance.‘Sitaaa…’Asoldiermovedsuddenlyfromher left, swinginghis lathi low.Aiming forhercalves.Sita jumped

high,tuckingherfeetintoavoidtheblow.Whileintheair,shequicklyreleasedtheright-handgriponthelathiandswungitviciouslywithherlefthand.ThelathihittheLankanonthesideofhishead.Knockinghimunconscious.Asshelanded,sheshoutedagain,‘Raaaam!’Sheheardthesamevoice.Thevoiceofherhusband.Soft,fromthedistance.‘Leave…her…alone

…’As if electrified by the sound of his voice, ten Lankans charged in together. She swung her lathi

ferociouslyonallsides,rapidlyincapacitatingmany.‘Raaaam!’Sheheardthevoiceagain.Notsodistantthistime.‘Sitaaaa….’He’sclose.He’sclose.The Lankan onslaught was steady and unrelenting now. Sita kept swinging rhythmically. Viciously.

Alas,therewereonetoomanyenemies.ALankanswunghislathifrombehind.Intoherback.‘Raaa…’Sita’skneesbuckledunderherasshecollapsedtotheground.Beforeshecouldrecover,thesoldiers

raninandheldhertight.ShestruggledfiercelyasaLankancameforward,holdinganeemleafinhishand.Itwassmearedwith

ablue-colouredpaste.Heheldtheleaftightagainsthernose.Asdarknessbegantoenvelopher,shesensedsomeropesagainstherhandsandfeet.Ram…Helpme…Andthedarknesstookover.

Chapter2

38yearsearlier,NorthofTrikutHills,Deoghar,India

‘Waitaminute,’whisperedSunaina,asshepulledthereinsonherhorse.Janak,thekingofMithila,andhiswife,Sunaina,hadtravelledalongwaytotheTrikutHills,nearlya

hundredkilometressouthoftheGangaRiver.TheysoughttomeetthelegendaryKanyakumari,theVirginGoddess. A divine child. It was believed across the Sapt Sindhu, land of the seven rivers, that theblessingsoftheLivingGoddesshelpedallwhocametoherwithacleanheart.AndtheroyalfamilyofMithilacertainlyneededHerblessings.Mithila,foundedbythegreatkingMithi,onthebanksofthemightyGandakiRiver,wasonceathriving

river-port town. Itswealthwas built on agriculture, owing to its exceptionally fertile soil, aswell asrivertradewiththerestoftheSaptSindhu.Unfortunately,fifteenyearsago,anearthquakeandsubsequentflood had changed the course of the Gandaki. It also changed the fortunes ofMithila. The river nowflowed farther to the west, by the city of Sankashya. Ruled by Janak’s younger brother Kushadhwaj,SankashyawasanominallysubsidiarykingdomofMithila.ToaddtothewoesofMithila,therainshadfailedrepeatedlyfora fewyearsafter thechangeofGandaki’scourse.Mithila’s losswasSankashya’sgain.KushadhwajrapidlyroseinstatureasthedefactorepresentativeoftheclanofMithi.ManyhadsuggestedthatKingJanakshouldinvestsomeoftheoldwealthofMithilainanengineering

project to redirect theGandakiback to itsoldcourse.ButKushadhwajhadadvisedagainst it.Hehadargued that itmade little sense to spendmoney on such amassive engineering project.After all,whywastemoneytotaketheriverfromSankashyatoMithila,whenthewealthofSankashyawasultimatelyMithila’s.Janak,adevoutandspiritualman,hadadoptedaphilosophicalapproachtohiskingdom’sdeclinein

fortune.Butthenewqueen,Sunaina,whohadmarriedJanakjusttwoyearsearlier,wasnottheidlesort.SheplannedtorestoreMithilatoitsoldglory.AndabigpartofthatplanwastorestoretheoldcourseoftheGandaki.Butaftersomanyyears,ithadbecomedifficulttofindlogicalreasonstojustifythecostlyanddifficultengineeringproject.Whenlogicfails,faithcanserveapurpose.Sunaina had convinced Janak to accompany her to the temple of the Kanyakumari and seek her

blessings.IftheChildGoddessapprovedoftheGandakiproject,evenKushadhwajwouldfinditdifficulttoargueagainst it.Not just theMithilans,butmanyacross the lengthandbreadthof Indiabelieved theKanyakumari’swordtobethatoftheMotherGoddessHerself.Unfortunately,theKanyakumarihadsaidno.‘Respectthejudgementofnature,’shehadsaid.It was a disappointed Sunaina and a philosophical Janak, along with their royal guard, who were

travellingnorthfromtheTrikutHillsnow,ontheirwayhometoMithila.‘Janak!’Sunainaraisedhervoice.Herhusbandhadriddenaheadwithoutslowing.Janakpulledhishorse’sreinsandlookedback.Hiswifepointedwordlesslytoatreeinthedistance.

Janakfollowedherdirection.Afewhundredmetresaway,apackofwolveshadsurroundedasolitaryvulture.Theyweretryingtocloseinandwerebeingpushedbackrepeatedlybythehugebird.Thevulturewasscreamingandsquawking.Avulture’ssquawkisnaturallymournful;butthisonesoundeddesperate.

Sunainalookedclosely.Itwasanunfairfight.Thereweresixwolves,weavinginandout,attackingthevulture inperfectcoordination.But thebravebirdstood itsground,pushing thembackrepeatedly.Theaggressorsweregraduallydrawingclose.Awolfhitthevulturewithitsclaws,drawingblood.Whyisn’titflyingaway?Sunainabegantocantertowardsthefight,intrigued.Herbodyguardsfollowedatadistance.‘Sunaina…’cautionedherhusband,stayingwherehewas,holdinghishorse’sreinstight.Suddenly,usingthedistractionofthevulturewithanotherattackfromtheleft,awolfstruckwithlethal

effect. It charged in from the right and bit the bird’s leftwing brutally.Getting a good hold, thewolfpulledbackhard,tryingtodragthevultureaway.Thebirdsquawkedfrantically.Itsvoicesoundinglikeawail.Butitheldstrong.Itdidnotmove,pullingbackwithallitsstrength.However,thewolfhadstrongjawsandastrongergrip.Bloodburstforthlikeafountain.Thewolfletgo,spittingpartsoftheseveredwingasitsteppedback.Sunaina spurred her horse and began to gallop towards the scene. She had expected the vulture to

escape through the opening the twowolves had provided.But, surprisingly, it stood in place, pushinganotherwolfback.Usetheopening!Getaway!Sunainawasspeeding towards theanimalsnow.Theroyalbodyguardsdrewtheirswordsandraced

aftertheirqueen.Afewfellbackwiththeking.‘Sunaina!’saidJanak,worriedabouthiswife’ssafety.Hespurredhishorse,buthewasnotthebestof

riders.Hishorseblithelycontinueditsslowtrot.Sunainawasperhapsfiftymetresawaywhenshenoticedthebundleforthefirsttime.Thevulturewas

protectingitfromthepackofwolves.Itwaslodgedinwhatlookedlikealittlefurrowinthedrymud.Thebundlemoved.‘BythegreatLordParshuRam!’exclaimedSunaina.‘That’sababy!’Sunainapressedforward,rapidlygoadingherhorseintoafiercegallop.Asshenearedthepackofwolves,sheheardthesoft,franticcriesofahumanbaby,almostdrownedout

bythehowlinganimals.‘Hyaah!’screamedSunaina.Herbodyguardsrodeclosebehind.Thewolves turned tail and scampered into thewoods as themounted riders thundered towards the

woundedbird.Aguardraisedhisswordtostrikethevulture.‘Wait!’orderedSunaina,raisingherrighthand.Hestoppedinhistracksashisfellowbodyguardsreinedtheirhorsestoahalt.SunainawasraisedinalandtotheeastofBranga.HerfatherwasfromAssam,sometimescalledbyits

ancientname,Pragjyotisha,thelandofEasternLight.AndhermotherbelongedtoMizoram,thelandoftheHighPeopleofRam.DevoteesofthesixthVishnu,LordParshuRam,theMizoswerefiercewarriors.Buttheyweremostwellknownfortheirinstinctiveunderstandingofanimalsandtherhythmsofnature.Sunaina intuitively knew that the ‘bundle’ was not food for the vulture, but a responsibility to be

protected.‘Getmesomewater,’orderedSunaina,asshedismountedherhorse.Oneoftheguardsspokeupasthegroupdismounted.‘MyLady,isitsafeforyouto…’Sunaina cut him short with a withering look. The queen was short and petite. Her round, fair-

complexioned face conveyed gentleness to the observer. But her small eyes betrayed the steelydeterminationthatwasthecoreofherbeing.Sherepeatedsoftly,‘Getmesomewater.’‘Yes,MyLady.’Abowlfilledwithwaterappearedinaninstant.Sunainalockedhereyeswiththevulture’s.Thebirdwasbreathingheavily,exhaustedbyitsbattlewith

thewolves.Itwascoveredinbloodfromthenumerouswoundsonitsbody.Thewoundonitswingwas

especiallyalarming,bloodgushingoutof itata frighteningrate.Lossofbloodmade itunsteadyon itsfeet.Butthevulturerefusedtomove,itseyesfixedonSunaina.Itwassquawkingaggressively,thrustingitsbeakforward.StrikingtheairwithitstalonstokeeptheQueenofMithilaaway.Sunainapointedly ignored thebundlebehind thevulture.Focusedon themassivebird, shebegan to

humasoft,calmingtune.Thevultureseemedtoeaseabit.Itwithdrewitstalons.Thesquawkingreducedinvolumeandintensity.Sunainacreptforward.Gently.Slowly.Onceclose,shebowedherheadandsubmissivelyplacedthe

bowlofwaterinfrontofthebird.Thenshecreptbackjustasslowly.Shespokeinamellifluousvoice.‘Ihavecometohelp…Trustme…’Thedumbbeastunderstoodthetoneofthehuman.Itbenttosipsomewater,butinstead,collapsedto

theground.Sunaina rushed forward and cradled the head of the nowprone bird, caressing it gently.The child,

wrappedinarichredclothwithblackstripes,wascryingdesperately.Shesignalledasoldiertopickupthepreciousbundleasshecontinuedtosoothethebird.

‘What a beautiful baby,’ cooed Janak, as hebent his tall,wiry frame and edged close tohiswife, hisnormallywisebutdetachedeyesfullofloveandattention.Janak and Sunaina sat on temporarily set up chairs. The baby slept comfortably in Sunaina’s arms,

swaddledinasoftcottoncloth.Amassiveumbrellashadedthemfromthescorchingsun.Theroyaldoctorhadexaminedthebaby,andbandagedawoundonherrighttemplewithsomeherbsandneemleaves.Hehad assured the royal couple that the scar would largely disappear with time. Along with the otherphysician,thedoctornowtendedtothevulture’swounds.‘She’sprobablyjustafewmonthsold.Shemustbestrongtohavesurvivedthisordeal,’saidSunaina,

gentlyrockingthebabyinherarms.‘Yes.Strongandbeautiful.Justlikeyou.’Sunainalookedatherhusbandandsmiledasshecaressedthebaby’shead.‘Howcananyoneabandon

achildlikeher?’Janaksighed.‘Manypeoplearenotwiseenoughtocountlife’sblessings.Theykeepfocusinginstead

onwhattheworldhasdeniedthem.’Sunainanoddedatherhusbandandturnedherattentionbacktothechild.‘Shesleepslikeanangel.’‘Thatshedoes,’saidJanak.Sunainapulled thebabyupcloseandkissedhergentlyon the forehead,careful toavoid the injured

area.Janakpattedhiswife’sbackwarmly.‘Butareyousure,Sunaina?’‘Yes. This baby is ours. DeviKanyakumari may not have given us what we wanted. But she has

blesseduswithsomethingmuchbetter.’‘Whatwillwecallher?’Sunainalookedupattheskyanddrewinadeepbreath.Shehadanameinmindalready.Sheturnedto

Janak.‘WefoundherinafurrowinMotherEarth.Itwaslikeamother’swombforher.WewillcallherSita.’

SunainarushedintoJanak’sprivateoffice.Reclininginaneasychair,thekingofMithilawasreadingthetext of the Jabali Upanishad. It was a treatise on wisdom by the great Maharishi Satyakam Jabali.

Shiftingattentiontohiswife,heputdownthetext.‘So,hastheEmperorwon?’IthadbeenfiveyearssinceSitahadenteredtheirlives.‘No,’saidabewilderedSunaina,‘helost.’Janaksatupstraight,stunned.‘EmperorDashrathlosttoatraderfromLanka?’‘Yes.RaavanhasalmostcompletelymassacredtheSaptSindhuArmyatKarachapa.EmperorDashrath

barelyescapedwithhislife.’‘LordRudrabemerciful,’whisperedJanak.‘There’smore.QueenKaushalya,theeldestwifeoftheEmperor,gavebirthtoasononthedaythathe

losttheBattleofKarachapa.Andnow,manyareblamingthelittleboyforthedefeat.Sayingthathe’sanillomen.FortheEmperorhadneverlostabattletillthisboywasborn.’‘Whatnonsense!’saidJanak.‘Howcanpeoplebesostupid?’‘Thelittleboy’snameisRam.NamedafterthesixthVishnu,LordParshuRam.’‘Let’shopeit’sluckyforhim.Poorchild.’‘IammoreconcernedaboutthefateofMithila,Janak.’Janaksighedhelplessly.‘Whatdoyouthinkwillhappen?’Sunainahadbeengoverningthekingdompracticallysinglehandedly,oflate.Janakwasspendingmore

and more time lost in the world of philosophy. The queen had become increasingly popular in thekingdom.ManybelievedthatshehadbeenluckyforMithila.FortherainshadpoureddowninalltheirgloryeveryyearsinceshehadcometothecityasKingJanak’swife.‘Iamworriedaboutsecurity,’saidSunaina.‘Andwhataboutmoney?’askedJanak.‘Don’tyouthinkRaavanwillenforcehistradedemandsonall

thekingdoms?MoneywillflowoutoftheSaptSindhuintoLanka’scoffers.’‘Butwehardlytradethesedays.Hecannotdemandanythingfromus.Theotherkingdomshavea lot

moretolose.IammoreworriedaboutthedecimationofthearmiesoftheSaptSindhu.Lawlessnesswillincreaseeverywhere.Howsafecanwebeiftheentirelandfallsintochaos?’‘True.’AthoughtcrossedJanak’smind.WhocanpreventthatwhichiswrittenbyFate,beitofpeopleorof

countries?Ourtaskisbuttounderstand,notfight,whatmustbe;andlearnthelessonsforournextlife.Orprepareformoksha.ButheknewSunainadisliked‘helplessness’.Soheremainedsilent.Thequeencontinued,‘IdidnotexpectRaavantowin.’Janaklaughed.‘It’sallverywelltobeavictor.Butthevanquishedgetmorelovefromtheirwomen!’Sunainanarrowedhereyesandstaredat Janak.Not impressedbyherhusband’sattemptatwit. ‘We

mustmakesomeplans,Janak.Wemustbereadyfortheinevitable.’Janakwastemptedtorespondwithanotherhumorousremark.Wisdomdictatedrestraint.‘I trustyoucompletely.You’ll thinkof something, I’msure,’ smiledJanak,ashe turnedhisattention

backtotheJabaliUpanishad.

Chapter3

While therestofIndiawassufferingtheaftershocksofDashrath’sdefeat toRaavan,Mithila itselfwasrelatively unaffected. There was not much trade in any case to be negatively impacted. Sunaina hadinitiated some reforms that hadworkedwell.For instance, local tax collection and administrationhadbeen devolved to the village level. It reduced the strain on the Mithila bureaucracy and improvedefficiency.Usingtheincreasedrevenuefromagriculture,shehadretrainedtheexcessbureaucracyandexpanded

theMithilapoliceforce, thus improvingsecuritywithin thekingdom.Mithilahadnostandingarmyanddid not need one; by treaty, the Sankashya Army of Kushadhwaj was supposed to fight the externalenemies ofMithila, when necessary. Thesewere notmajor changes andwere implemented relativelysmoothly,without disturbing thedaily life of theMithilans.Thereweremassdisturbances in theotherkingdomsthough,whichrequiredgut-wrenchingchangestocomplywiththetreatiesimposedbyRaavan.Sita’s birthdayhadbeen established as a dayof celebration by royal decree.Theydidn’t knowher

actualdateofbirth.So theycelebrated thedayshehadbeen found in the furrow.Todaywasher sixthbirthday.Giftsandalmsweredistributedtothepoorinthecity.Likeitwasdoneoneveryspecialday.Witha

difference.UntilSunainahadcomeandtoneduptheadministration,muchofthecharitywasgrabbedbylabourerswhowerenotrich,butwhowerenotexactlypooreither.Sunaina’sadministrativereformshadensuredthatthecharityfirstwenttothosewhoweretrulypoorandneedy;thosewholivedintheslumsclosetothesoutherngateoftheinner,secondaryfortwall.Afterthepublicceremonies,theroyalcouplehadarrivedatthemassivetempleofLordRudra.The Lord Rudra temple was built of red sandstone. It was one of the tallest structures inMithila,

visiblefrommostpartsofthecity.Ithadamassivegardenaroundit—anareaofpeaceinthiscrowdedquarterofthecity.Beyondthegardenweretheslums,spreadingallthewaytothefortwalls.Insidethemaingarbagriha,thesanctumsanctorumofthetemple,alargeidolofLordRudraandLadyMohinihadbeenconsecrated.Seeminglyinconsonancewithacitythathadcometosymbolisetheloveofknowledge,peace, and philosophy, the image ofLordRudrawas not in his normally fierce form. In this form, helookedkind,almostgentle.HeheldthehandofthebeauteousLadyMohini,whosatnexttohim.Aftertheprayers,thetemplepriestofferedprasadtotheroyalfamily.Sunainatouchedthepriest’sfeet

andthenledSitabythehandtoawallbythesideofthegarbagriha.Onthewall,aplaquehadbeenputupinmemoryofthevulturethathadvaliantlydieddefendingSitafromapackofwolves.Adeathmaskofitsfacehadbeenmadebeforethebirdwascrematedwithhonour.Castinmetal,themaskrecordedthelastexpressionofthevultureasitleftitsmortalbody.Itwasahauntinglook:determinedandnoble.Sitahadmadehermotherrelatetheentirestoryonseveraloccasions.Sunainahadbeenhappytooblige.Shewantedherdaughtertoremember.Toknowthatnobilitycameinmanyaformandface.Sitatouchedthedeathmaskgently,reverentially.Andasalways,sheshedatearfortheonewhohadalsogivenherthegiftoflife.‘Thankyou,’whisperedSita.ShesaidashortprayertothegreatGodPashupati,LordoftheAnimals.

Shehopedthevulture’sbravesoulhadfoundpurposeagain.Janakdiscreetlysignalledhiswife,andtheroyalfamilyslowlywalkedoutoftheLordRudratemple.

The priests led the family down the flight of steps. The slumswere clearly visible from the platformheight.‘Whydon’tyoueverletmegothere,Maa?’askedSita,pointingattheslums.Sunainasmiledandpattedherdaughter’shead.‘Soon.’‘Youalwayssaythat,’Sitaprotested,agrumpyexpressiononherface.‘And,Imeanit,’laughedSunaina.‘Soon.Ijustdidn’tsayhowsoon!’

‘Alright,’saidJanak,rufflingSita’shair.‘Runalongnow.IhavetospeakwithGuruji.’Theseven-year-oldSitahadbeenplayingwithherfatherinhisprivateofficewhenJanak’schiefguru,

Ashtaavakra,hadwalkedin.Janakhadbowedtohisguru,aswasthetradition,andhadrequestedhimtositonthethroneassignedforhim.Mithila, not being amajor player in the political arena of theSapt Sindhu anymore, did not have a

permanentrajguru.ButJanak’scourthostedthewidestrangeofeminentseers,scholars,scientistsandphilosophersfromIndia.IntellectualslovedtheMithilanair,waftingwiththefragranceofknowledgeandwisdom.Andoneofthemostdistinguishedofthesethinkers,RishiAshtaavakra,wasJanak’schiefguru.EventhegreatMaharishiVishwamitra,ChiefoftheMalayaputratribe,visitedMithilaonoccasion.‘Wecanspeaklater,ifyousodesire,YourHighness,’saidAshtaavakra.‘No,no.Ofcoursenot,’ saidJanak. ‘Ineedyourguidanceonaquestion thathasbeen troublingme,

Guruji.’Ashtaavakra’s bodywas deformed in eight places.Hismother hadmetwith an accident late in her

pregnancy. But fate and karma had balanced the physical handicap with an extraordinary mind.Ashtaavakrahadshownsignsofutterbrilliancefromaveryyoungage.Asayouth,hehadvisitedJanak’scourtanddefeated theking’s thenchiefguru,RishiBandi, inascintillatingdebate. Indoingso,hehadredeemedhis father,RishiKahola,whohad lost adebate toBandiearlier.RishiBandihadgracefullyaccepteddefeatandretired toanashramnear theEasternSea toacquiremoreknowledge.Thus itwasthattheyoungAshtaavakrabecameJanak’schiefguru.Ashtaavakra’sdeformitiesdidnotattractattentionintheliberalatmosphereofMithila,thekingdomof

thepiousking,Janak.Forthesage’sluminousmindwascompelling.‘Iwillseeyouintheevening,Baba,’saidSitatoherfatherasshetouchedhisfeet.Janakblessedher.ShealsotouchedthefeetofRishiAshtaavakraandwalkedoutofthechamber.As

she crossed the threshold, Sita stopped and hid behind the door. Out of Janak’s eyesight, but withinearshot.Shewantedtohearwhatquestionhadbeentroublingherfather.‘Howdoweknowwhatrealityis,Guruji?’askedJanak.TheyoungSitastoodnonplussed.Confused.Shehadheardwhisperingsinthecorridorsofthepalace.

Thatherfatherwasbecomingincreasinglyeccentric.ThattheywereluckytohaveapragmaticqueeninSunainatolookafterthekingdom.Whatisreality?Sheturnedandrantowardshermother’schambers.‘Maa!’

Sitahadwaitedlongenough.Shewaseightyearsoldnow.Andhermotherhadstillnottakenhertotheslumsadjoiningthefortwalls.Thelasttimeshehadasked,shehadatleastbeenofferedanexplanation.Shehadbeentoldthatitcouldbedangerous.Thatsomepeoplecouldgetbeatenupoverthere.Sitanowbelievedthathermotherwasjustmakingexcuses.

Finally,curiosityhadgottenthebetterofher.Disguisedintheclothesofamaid’schild,Sitaslippedout of thepalace.Anoversizedangvastramwaswrapped around her shoulder and ears, serving as ahood.Herheartpoundedwithexcitementandnervousness.Sherepeatedlylookedbehindtoensurethatnoonenoticedherembarkonherlittleadventure.Noonedid.Lateintheafternoon,SitapassedtheLordRudratemplegardensandstoleintotheslums.Allalone.

Hermother’swordsringinginherears,shehadarmedherselfwithalargestick.Shehadbeenpractisingstick-fightingforoverayearnow.Assheenteredtheslumarea,shescreweduphernose.Assaultedbythestench.Shelookedbackatthe

templegarden,feelingtheurgetoturnback.Butalmostimmediately, theexcitementofdoingsomethingforbiddentookover.Shehadwaitedalongtimeforthis.Shewalkedfartherintotheslumquarters.Thehouses were rickety structures made of bamboo sticks and haphazardly spread cloth awnings. Thecrampedspacebetween thewobblyhousesservedas the‘streets’onwhichpeoplewalked throughtheslums.Thesestreetsalsoservedasopendrains,toilets,andopen-airanimalshelters.Theywerecoveredwithgarbage.Therewasmuckandexcretaeverywhere.Athinfilmofanimalandhumanurinemade itdifficult towalk.Sita pulledherangvastram over her nose andmouth, fascinated and appalled at thesametime.Peopleactuallylivelikethis?LordRudrabemerciful.Thepalacestaffhadtoldherthat thingshadimprovedintheslumsafterQueenSunainahadcometo

Mithila.Howmuchworsecouldithavebeenforthistobecalledanimprovement?Shesoldieredon,gingerlyside-steppingthemuckonthemuddywalkways.Tillshesawsomethingthat

madeherstop.Amothersatoutsideaslumhouse,feedingherchildfromafrugalplate.Herbabywasperhapstwoor

three years old.He sat in hismother’s lap, gurgling happily as he dodged themorsels fromher hand.Everynowandthen,heobligedthemotherandopenedhismouthwiththeatricalconcession,allowinghertostuffsmallmorselsoffoodintohismouth.Itwouldthenbethemother’sturntocooindelight.Pleasingasitwas,thiswasn’twhatfascinatedSita.Acrowsatnexttothewoman.Andshefedeveryothermorseltothebird.Thecrowwaitedforitsturn.Patiently.Toit,thiswasn’tagame.Thewomanfedthemboth.Turnbyturn.Sitasmiled.Sherememberedsomethinghermotherhadsaidtoherafewdaysback:Often thepoor

havemorenobilityinthemthantheactualnobility.Shehadn’treallyunderstoodthewordsthen.Shedidnow.Sita turned around. She’d seen enough of the slums for her first trip. She promised herself that she

wouldreturnsoon.Timetogobacktothepalace.Therewerefourtinylanesahead.WhichonedoItake?Uncertain, she took the left-mostoneandbegan towalk.Shekeptmoving.But the slumborderwas

nowhereinsight.Herheartbeatquickenedasshenervouslyhastenedherpace.Thelighthadbeguntofade.Everychaoticlaneseemedtoendatacrossroadsofseveralotherpaths.

Allhaphazard,alldisorganised.Confused,sheblindlyturnedintoaquietlane.Beginningtofeelthefirsttracesofpanic,shequickenedhersteps.Butitonlytookherthewrongway,faster.‘Sorry!’criedSita,asshebangedintosomeone.Thedark-skinnedgirl looked likeanadolescent;perhapsolder.Shehadadirty,unkempt lookabout

her. The stench from her tattered clothes suggested that she had not changed them for a while. Licecrawledoverthesurfaceofhermatted,unwashedhair.Shewastall,lean,andsurprisinglymuscular.Herfelineeyesandscarredbodygaveheradangerous,edgylook.ShestaredatSita’sfaceandthenatherhands.Therewasasuddenflashofrecognitioninhereyes,as

thoughsensinganopportunity.Sita,meanwhile,haddartedintoanadjacentlane.ThePrincessofMithila

pickeduppace, almost breaking into adesperate run.Praying that thiswas the correct pathout of theslum.Sweatbeadswerebreakingoutonherforehead.Shetriedtosteadyherbreath.Shecouldn’t.Shekeptrunning.Tillshewasforcedtostop.‘LordRudrabemerciful.’She had screeched to a halt, confronted by a solid barrierwall. Shewas nowwell and truly lost,

findingherselfattheotherendoftheslumwhichabuttedtheinnerfortwall.TheinnercityofMithilawasasfaras itcouldbe. Itwaseerilyquiet,withscarcelyanyonearound.Thesunhadalmostset,and thefaintsnatchesoftwilightonlyemphasisedthedarkness.Shedidnotknowwhattodo.‘Whoisthisnow?’Avoicewasheardfrombehindher.Sitawhirledaround,readytostrike.Shesawtwoadolescentboysmovingtowardsherfromtheright.

Sheturnedleft.Andran.Butdidnotgetfar.Alegstuckoutandtrippedher,makingherfallflatonherface.Intothemuck.Thereweremoreofthem.Shegotupquicklyandgrabbedherstick.Fiveboyshadgatheredaroundher.Casualmenaceontheirfaces.Hermotherhadwarnedheraboutthecrimesintheslums.Ofpeoplegettingbeatenup.ButSitahadnot

believedthosestories,thinkingthatthesweetpeoplewhocametocollectcharityfromhermotherwouldneverhurtanyone.IshouldhavelistenedtoMaa.Sitalookedaroundnervously.Thefiveboyswerenowinfrontofher.Thesteepfortwallwasbehind

her.Therewasnoescape.Shebrandishedthestickatthem,threateningly.Theboysletoutamerrylaugh,amusedbytheanticsof

thelittlegirl.Theone in thecentrebita fingernail inmockfear,andsaid inasing-songvoice, ‘Ooh…we’reso

scared…’Raucouslaughterfollowed.‘That’sapreciousring,noblegirl,’saidtheboy,withtheatricalpoliteness.‘I’msureit’sworthmore

thanwhatthefiveofuswillearninourentirelives.Doyouthinkthat…’‘Doyouwantthering?’askedSita,feelingasenseofreliefasshereachedforit.‘Takeit.Justletme

go.’Theboysniggered.‘Ofcoursewewillletyougo.Firstthrowtheringoverhere.’Sita gulped anxiously. She balanced her stick against her body, and quickly pulled the ring off her

forefinger.Holdingitinherclosedfist,shepointedthestickatthemwithherlefthand.‘Iknowhowtousethis.’Theboylookedathisfriends,hiseyebrowsraised.Heturnedtothegirlandsmiled.‘Webelieveyou.

Justthrowtheringhere.’Sitaflungtheringforward.Itfellashortdistancefromtheboy.‘Yourthrowingarmcoulddowithmorestrength,noblegirl,’laughedtheboy,ashebentdowntopick

itup.Helookedatitcarefullyandwhistledsoftly,beforetuckingitintohiswaistband.‘Now,whatmoredoyouhave?’Suddenly,theboyarchedforwardandfelltotheground.Behindhimstoodthetall,dark-skinnedgirl

Sita had crashed into earlier. She held a big bamboo stickwith both hands.The boyswhirled aroundaggressivelyandlookedatthegirl;thebravadoevaporatedjustasquickly.Shewastallerthantheywere.Leanandmuscular.Moreimportantly,itappearedtheboysknewher.Andherreputation.‘Youhavenothingtodowiththis,Samichi…’saidoneoftheboys,hesitantly.‘Leave.’Samichiansweredwithherstickandstruckhishand.Ferociously.Theboystaggeredback,clutching

hisarm.

‘I’llbreaktheotheronetoo,ifyoudon’tgetoutofhere,’growledSamichi.And,theboyran.Theotherfourdelinquents,however,stoodtheirground.Theonethatwasfelledearlierwasbackon

his feet.They facedSamichi, theirbacks toSita.Theapparentlyharmlessone.Theydidn’tnoticeSitagrippingherstick,holdingithighaboveherheadandcreepingupontheonewhohadherring.Judgingthedistanceperfectly,sheswungherweaponviciouslyattheboy’shead.Thwack!Theboycollapsedinaheap,bloodspurtingfromthecrackonthebackofhishead.Thethreeothers

turnedaround.Shocked.Paralysed.‘Comeon!Quick!’screamedSamichi,assherushedforwardandgrabbedSitabythehand.Asthe twogirls ranaroundthecorner,Samichistoleaglancebackat thescene.Theboylayon the

ground,unmoving.Hisfriendshadgatheredaroundhim,tryingtorousehim.‘Quickly!’shoutedSamichi,draggingSitaalong.

Chapter4

Sitastood,herhandslockedbehindherback.Herheadbowed.MuckandrefusefromtheMithilaslumsalloverherclothes.Herfacecakedwithmud.Theveryexpensiveringonherfingermissing.Shiveringwithfear.Shehadneverseenhermothersoangry.Sunainawas staring at her daughter.Nowordswere spoken. Just a look of utter disapproval.And

worse,disappointment.Sitafeltlikeshehadfailedhermotherintheworstpossibleway.‘I’msosorry,Maa,’wailedSita,freshtearsflowingdownherface.Shewished hermotherwould at least say something.Or, slap her.Or, scold her. This silencewas

terrifying.‘Maa…’Sunainasatinstonysilence.Staringhardatherdaughter.‘MyLady!’Sunainalookedtowardstheentrancetoherchamber.AMithilapolicemanwasstandingthere.Hishead

bowed.‘Whatisthenews?’askedSunaina,brusquely.‘Thefiveboysaremissing,MyLady,’saidthepoliceman.‘Theyhaveprobablyescaped.’‘Allfive?’‘Idon’thaveanynewinformationontheinjuredboy,MyLady,’saidthepoliceman,referringtotheone

hitontheheadbySita.‘Somewitnesseshavecomeforward.Theysaythathewascarriedawaybytheotherboys.Hewasbleedingalot.’‘Alot?’‘Well…onewitnesssaidhewouldbesurprisedifthatboy…’Thepoliceman,wisely,leftthewords‘madeitalive’unsaid.‘Leaveus,’orderedSunaina.Thepolicemanimmediatelysaluted,turned,andmarchedout.SunainaturnedherattentionbacktoSita.Herdaughtercoweredunderthesterngaze.Thequeenthen

lookedbeyondSita,atthefilthyadolescentstandingnearthewall.‘Whatisyourname,child?’askedSunaina.‘Samichi,MyLady.’‘Youarenotgoingbacktotheslums,Samichi.Youwillstayinthepalacefromnowon.’Samichi smiled and folded her hands together into aNamaste. ‘Of course,MyLady. It will bemy

honourto…’SamichistoppedspeakingasSunainaraisedherrighthand.ThequeenturnedtowardsSita.‘Gotoyour

chambers.Takeabath.Havethephysicianlookatyourwounds;andSamichi’swounds.Wewillspeaktomorrow.’‘Maa…’‘Tomorrow.’

SitawasstandingnexttoSunaina,whowasseatedontheground.BothSunainaandshewereoutsidetheprivate templeroomin thequeen’schambers.Sunainawasengrossed inmakinga freshrangoli on thefloor;made of powdered colours, it was an ethereal mix of fractals, mathematics, philosophy, andspiritualsymbolism.Sunainamadeanewrangoliearlyeverymorningattheentranceofthetemple.Withinthetemple,idols

ofthemainGodswhoSunainaworshippedhadbeenconsecrated:LordParshuRam,thepreviousVishnu;LordRudra, thegreatMahadev;LordBrahma, thecreator-scientist.But theprideofplaceat thecentrewas reserved for the Mother Goddess, ShaktiMaa. The tradition of Mother Goddess worship wasespecially strong in the land of Sunaina’s father,Assam; a vast, fertile and fabulously rich valley thatembracedtheupperreachesofthelargestriveroftheIndiansubcontinent,Brahmaputra.Sitawaitedpatiently.Tooscaredtotalk.‘ThereisalwaysareasonwhyIaskyoutodoornotdosomething,Sita,’saidSunaina.Notraisingher

eyesfromtheintricaterangolithatwasemergingonthefloor.Sitasatstill.Hereyespinnedonhermother’shands.‘Thereisanagetodiscovercertainthingsinlife.Youneedtobereadyforit.’Finishingtherangoli,Sunainalookedatherdaughter.Sitarelaxedasshesawhermother’seyes.They

werefulloflove.Asalways.Shewasn’tangryanymore.‘Therearebadpeopletoo,Sita.Peoplewhodocriminalthings.Youfindthemamongtherichinthe

innercityandthepoorintheslums.’‘YesMaa,I…’‘Shhh…don’ttalk,justlisten,’saidSunainafirmly.Sitafellsilent.Sunainacontinued.‘Thecriminals

among the richaremostlydrivenbygreed.Onecannegotiatewithgreed.But thecriminals among thepooraredrivenbydesperationandanger.Desperationcansometimesbringoutthebestinahumanbeing.That’swhythepoorcanoftenbenoble.Butdesperationcanalsobringouttheworst.Theyhavenothingtolose.Andtheygetangrywhentheyseeotherswithsomuchwhentheyhavesolittle.It’sunderstandable.As rulers, our responsibility is tomake efforts and change things for the better. But it cannot happenovernight.Ifwetaketoomuchfromtherichtohelpthepoor,therichwillrebel.Thatcancausechaos.Andeveryonewillsuffer.Sowehavetoworkslowly.Wemusthelpthetrulypoor.Thatisdharma.Butwe should not be blind and assume that all poor are noble.Not everyone has the spirit to keep theircharacterstrongwhentheirstomachsareempty.’SunainapulledSitaontoherlap.Shesatcomfortably.Forthefirsttimesinceherfoolhardyforayinto

theslums,shebreathedalittleeasier.‘YouwillhelpmegovernMithilasomeday,’saidSunaina.‘Youwillneedtobematureandpragmatic.

Youmustuseyourhearttodecidethedestination,butuseyourheadtoplotthejourney.Peoplewhoonlylistentotheirheartsusuallyfail.Ontheotherhand,peoplewhoonlyusetheirheadstendtobeselfish.Only theheart canmakeyou thinkofothersbeforeyourself.For the sakeofdharma,youmustaimforequality and balance in society. Perfect equality can never be achieved but we must try to reduceinequalityasmuchaswecan.Butdon’tfallintothetrapofstereotypes.Don’tassumethatthepowerfularealwaysbadorthatthepowerlessarealwaysgood.Thereisgoodandbadineveryone.’Sitanoddedsilently.‘Youneedtobeliberal,ofcourse.ForthatistheIndianway.Butdon’tbeablindandstupidliberal.’‘Yes,Maa.’‘Anddonotwilfullyputyourselfindangereveragain.’Sitahuggedhermother,astearsflowedoutofhereyes.Sunainapulledbackandwipedherdaughter’stears.‘Youfrightenedmetodeath.WhatwouldIhave

doneifsomethingbadhadhappenedtoyou?’‘Sorry,Maa.’

SunainasmiledassheembracedSitaagain.‘Myimpulsivelittlegirl…’Sitatookadeepbreath.Guilthadbeengnawingawayather.Sheneededtoknow.‘Maa,thatboyIhit

onthehead…What…’Sunainainterruptedherdaughter.‘Don’tworryaboutthat.’‘But…’‘Isaiddon’tworryaboutthat.’

‘Thankyou,chacha!’Sitasquealed,asshejumpedintoheruncleKushadhwaj’sarms.Kushadhwaj, Janak’s younger brother and the king of Sankashya,was on a visit toMithila.He had

broughtagift forhisniece.Agift thathadbeenamassivehit. ItwasanArabianhorse.Native Indianbreeds were different from the Arab variety. The Indian ones usually had thirty-four ribs while theArabianhorsesoftenhadthirty-six.Moreimportantly,anArabianhorsewasmuchsoughtafterasitwassmaller, sleeker, and easier to train. And its endurance level wasmarkedly superior. It was a prizedpossession.Andexpensivetoo.Sitawasunderstandablydelighted.Kushadhwaj handed her a customised saddle, suitable for her size.Made of leather, it had a gold-

platedhornontopofthepommel.Thesaddle,thoughsmall,wasstillheavyfortheyoungSita.ButsherefusedthehelpoftheMithilaroyalstaffincarryingit.Sitadraggedthesaddletotheprivatecourtyardoftheroyalchambers,whereheryounghorsewaited

forher.ItwasheldbyoneofKushadhwaj’saides.Sunainasmiled.‘Thankyousomuch.Sitawillbelost inthisprojectforthenextfewweeks.Idon’t

thinkshewilleatorsleeptillshe’slearnthowtoride!’‘She’sagoodgirl,’saidKushadhwaj.‘Butitisanexpensivegift,Kushadhwaj.’‘She’smyonlyniece,Bhabhi,’saidKushadhwajtohissister-in-law. ‘If Iwon’tspoilher, thenwho

will?’SunainasmiledandgesturedforthemtojoinJanakintheverandaadjoiningthecourtyard.Thekingof

MithilasettheBrihadaranyakUpanishadmanuscriptasideashiswifeandbrotherjoinedhim.Discreetaides placed some cups filledwith buttermilk on the table. They also lit a silver lamp, placed at thecentreofthetable.Justasnoiselessly,theywithdrew.Kushadhwajcastaquizzicallookatthelampandfrowned.Itwasdaytime.Butheremainedquiet.Sunainawaitedtilltheaideswereoutofearshot.ThenshelookedatJanak.Butherhusbandhadpicked

uphismanuscriptagain.Deeplyengrossed.Afterherattemptstomeethiseyesremainedunsuccessful,sheclearedherthroat.Janakremainedfocusedonthemanuscriptinhishands.‘Whatisit,Bhabhi?’askedKushadhwaj.Sunaina realised that she had no choice. She would have to be the one to speak up. She pulled a

document out of the large pouch tied to her waist and placed it on the table. Kushadhwaj resolutelyrefusedtolookatit.‘Kushadhwaj,wehavebeendiscussingtheroadconnectingSankashyatoMithilaformanyyearsnow,’

saidSunaina.‘ItwaswashedawayintheGreatFlood.Butithasbeenmorethantwodecadessince.TheabsenceofthatroadhascausedimmensehardshiptothecitizensandtradersofMithila.’‘Whattraders,Bhabhi?’saidKushadhwaj,laughinggently.‘ArethereanyinMithila?’Sunainaignoredthebarb.‘Youhadagreedinprincipletopayfortwo-thirdsofthecostoftheroad,if

Mithilafinancedtheremainingone-third.’Kushadhwajremainedsilent.

‘Mithilahasraiseditsshareofthemoney,’saidSunaina.Shepointedtothedocument.‘Let’ssealtheagreementandlettheconstructionbegin.’Kushadhwajsmiled.‘ButBhabhi,Idon’tseewhattheproblemis.Theroadisnotthatbad.Peopleuse

iteveryday.ImyselftookthatroadtoMithilayesterday.’‘Butyouareaking,Kushadhwaj,’saidSunainapleasantly,hertonestudiouslypolite.‘Youarecapable

ofmanythingsthatordinarypeoplearenot.Ordinarypeopleneedagoodroad.’Kushadhwaj smiled broadly. ‘Yes, the ordinary people of Mithila are lucky to have a queen as

committedtothemasyouare.’Sunainadidnotsayanything.‘Ihaveanidea,Bhabhi,’saidKushadhwaj.‘LetMithilabegintheconstructionoftheroad.Onceyour

shareoftheone-thirdisdone,Sankashyawillcompletetheremainingtwo-third.’‘Allright.’Sunainapickedupthedocumentandaquillfromasidetableandscribbledalineattheend.Shethen

pulled out the royal seal from her pouch and marked the agreement. She offered the document toKushadhwaj.ItwasthenthatKushadhwajrealisedthesignificanceofthelamp.LordAgni,theGodofFire,aswitness.EveryIndianbelievedthatAgniwasthegreatpurifier.Itwasnotacoincidencethatthefirsthymnof

the first chapter of the holiest Indian scripture, theRigVeda, celebratedLordAgni.All promises thatweresealedwiththeGodofFireaswitnesscouldneverbebroken;promisesofmarriage,ofyagnas,ofpeacetreaties…andevenapromisetobuildroads.Kushadhwajdidnottaketheagreementfromhissister-in-law.Instead,hereachedintohispouchand

pulled out his own royal seal. ‘I trust you completely, Bhabhi. You can mark my agreement on thedocument.’SunainatookthesealfromKushadhwajandwasabouttostamptheagreement,whenhesoftlyspoke,

‘It’sanewseal,Bhabhi.OnethatreflectsSankashyaproperly.’Sunainafrowned.Sheturnedthesealaroundandlookedatitsmarkings.Eventhoughitwasamirror

image of the symbol that would be marked on the agreement, the Queen of Mithila recognised itimmediately. It was a single dolphin; the seal symbol of Mithila. Sankashya had historically been asubsidiarykingdomofMithila,ruledbytheyoungermembersoftheroyalfamily.Andithadadifferentseal:asinglehilsafish.Sunaina stiffened in anger. But she knew that she had to control her temper. She slowly placed the

documentbackonthetable.TheSankashyasealhadnotbeenused.‘Whydon’tyougivemeyouractualseal,Kushadhwaj?’saidSunaina.‘Thisismykingdom’ssealnow,Bhabhi.’‘ItcanneverbesounlessMithilaacceptsit.NokingdomwillrecognisethisasyoursealtillMithila

publiclydoes so.EverySaptSindhukingdomknows that the singledolphin is themarkof theMithilaroyalfamily’sdirectline.’‘True,Bhabhi.Butyoucanchangethat.Youcanlegitimisethissealacrossthelandbyusingitonthat

document.’Sunainacastalookatherhusband.ThekingofMithilaraisedhishead,lookedbrieflyathiswife,and

thenwentbacktotheBrihadaranyakUpanishad.‘Thisisnotacceptable,Kushadhwaj,’saidSunaina,maintaininghercalmexpressionandvoicetohide

theangerboilingwithin.‘ThiswillnothappenforaslongasI’malive.’‘Idon’tunderstandwhyyouaregettingsoagitated,Bhabhi.Youhavemarriedinto theMithilaroyal

family.Iwasbornintoit.TheroyalbloodofMithilaflowsinmyveins,notyours.Right,Janakdada?’Janaklookedupandfinallyspoke, thoughthe tonewasdetachedanddevoidofanger. ‘Kushadhwaj,

whateverSunainasaysismydecisionaswell.’

Kushadhwajstoodup.‘Thisisasadday.Bloodhasbeeninsultedbyblood.Forthesakeof…’Sunaina toorose toher feet.Abruptly interruptingKushadhwaj, thoughher toneremainedunfailingly

polite.‘Becarefulwhatyousaynext,Kushadhwaj.’Kushadhwajlaughed.HesteppedforwardandtooktheSankashyasealfromSunaina’shand.‘Thisis

mine.’Sunainaremainedsilent.‘Don’tpretendtobeacustodianoftheroyaltraditionsofMithila,’scoffedKushadhwaj.‘Youarenot

bloodfamily.Youareonlyanimport.’Sunainawasabout tosaysomethingwhenshe feltasmallhandwrap itselfaroundhers.She looked

down. The young Sita stood by her side, shaking with fury. In her other hand was the saddle thatKushadhwajhadjustgiftedher.Shethrewthesaddleatheruncle.Itfellonhisfeet.AsKushadhwajdoubledupinpain,theSankashyasealfellfromhishand.Sitaleaptforward,pickedupthesealandsmashedittotheground,breakingitintwo.Thebreakingof

aroyalsealwasconsideredaverybadomen.Thiswasagrievousinsult.‘Sita!’shoutedJanak.Kushadhwaj’sfacecontortedwithfury.‘Thisisanoutrage,Dada!’Sitanowstood in frontofhermother.She facedheruncle,daringhimwithhereyes.Spreadingher

armsouttocoverhermotherprotectively.ThekingofSankashyapickedupthebrokenpiecesofhisroyalsealandstormedout. ‘Youhavenot

heardthelastofthis,Dada!’Ashe left,SunainawentdownonherkneesandturnedSitaaround.‘Youshouldnothavedonethat,

Sita.’Sitalookedathermotherwithsmoulderingeyes.Thenturnedtolookatherfather,defiantandaccusing.

Therewasnotatraceofapologyonherface.‘Youshouldnothavedonethat,Sita.’

Sitaheldontohermother,refusingtoletgo.Sheweptwithwordlessanguish.AsmilingJanakcameuptoherandpattedherhead.Theroyalfamilyhadgatheredintheking’sprivateoffice.AfewweekshadpassedsincetheincidentwithKushadhwaj.Sita,herparentshaddecided,wasoldenoughtoleaveforgurukul;literally,theGuru’sfamily,butineffectaresidentialschool.JanakandSunainahadchosenRishiShvetaketu’sgurukulfortheirdaughter.Shvetaketuwastheuncle

of Janak’s chief guru, Ashtaavakra. His gurukul offered lessons in the core subjects of Philosophy,Mathematics,Science,andSanskrit.SitawouldalsoreceiveeducationinotherspecialisedsubjectslikeGeography,History,Economics,andRoyalAdministration,amongothers.Onesubject thatSunainahad insistedSitabe taught,overridingJanak’sobjections,waswarfareand

martialarts.Janakbelievedinnon-violence.Sunainabelievedinbeingpractical.Sitaknewthatshehadtogo.Butshewasachild.Andthechildwasterrifiedofleavinghome.‘Youwillcomehomeregularly,mydear,’saidJanak.‘Andwewillcomeandseeyoutoo.Theashram

isonthebanksoftheGangaRiver.It’snottoofar.’Sitatightenedhergriponhermother.SunainaprisedSita’sarmsandheldherchin.Shemadeherdaughter lookather. ‘Youwilldowell

there.Itwillprepareyouforyourlife.Iknowthat.’‘AreyousendingmeawaybecauseofwhatIdidwithchacha?’sobbedSita.SunainaandJanakimmediatelywentdownontheirkneesandheldherclose.‘Ofcoursenot,mydarling,’saidSunaina.‘Thishasnothingtodowithyouruncle.Youhavetostudy.

Youmustgeteducatedsothatyoucanhelprunthiskingdomsomeday.’‘Yes,Sita,’saidJanak.‘Yourmotherisright.WhathappenedwithKushadhwajunclehasnothingtodo

withyou.Itisbetweenhim,andyourmotherandI.’Sitaburstintoafreshboutoftears.Sheclungtoherparentslikeshe’dneverletthemgo.

Chapter5

TwoyearshadpassedsinceSitahadarrivedinShvetaketu’sgurukul.Whiletheten-year-oldstudenthadimpressedherguruwithherintelligenceandsharpness,itwasherenthusiasmfortheoutdoorsthatwastrulyextraordinary.Especiallynoteworthywasherskillinstick-fighting.Butherspiritedtemperamentalsocreatedproblemsonoccasion.Likethetimewhenafellowstudent

hadcalledherfatheranineffectualking,moresuitedtobeingateacherthanaruler.Sita’sresponsehadbeen to thrash the livingdaylights out of him.Theboyhadbeen confined to thegurukulAyuralay foralmostamonth.Hehadlimpedfortwomonthsafterthat.A worried Shvetaketu had arranged for extra classes on the subjects of non-violence and impulse

control.Thehotheadedgirlhadalsobeenstrictlyremindedoftherulesagainstphysicalviolenceonthegurukulpremises.Theartofwarfarewas taught to inculcateself-disciplineandacodeofconduct forfutureroyalduties.Withintheschool,theywerenotallowedtohurtoneanother.Toensurethatthemessagewenthome,Sunainahadalsobeentoldofthisincidentononeofhervisits

tothegurukul.HerstrongwordshadhadthedesiredimpactonSita.Shehadrefrainedfrombeatingotherstudentssincethen,thoughherresolvewastestedattimes.Thiswasonesuchtime.‘Aren’tyouadopted?’tauntedKaamlRaj,afellowclassmate.Fivestudentsfromthegurukulhadgatheredcloseto thepondonthecampus.ThreesataroundSita,

whohaddrawnageometricshapeontheground,usingsomeropes.Engrossedinexplaininga theoremfromtheBaudhayanaShulbaSutra,shehadbeenstudiouslyignoringKaaml.Asweretheothers.Hewashoveringaroundasusual,tryingtodistracteveryone.Uponhearinghiswords,alleyesturnedtoSita.RadhikawasSita’sbest friend.She immediately tried topreventa reaction. ‘Let itbe,Sita.He isa

fool.’Sitasatupstraightandclosedhereyesforamoment.Shehadoftenwonderedaboutherbirthmother.

Whyhadsheabandonedher?Wassheasmagnificentasheradoptivemother?Buttherewasnodoubtinhermindaboutonefact:ShewasSunaina’sdaughter.‘Iammymother’sdaughter,’mutteredSita,lookingdefiantlyathertormentorasshepointedlyignored

herfriend’sadvice.‘Yes,yes,Iknowthat.Weareallourmothers’children.Butaren’tyouadopted?Whatwillhappento

youwhenyourmotherhasarealdaughter?’‘Realdaughter?Iamnotunreal,Kaaml.Iamveryreal.’‘Yes,yes.Butyouarenot…’‘Justgetlost,’saidSita.ShepickedupthetwigwithwhichshehadbeenexplainingtheBaudhayana

theorem.‘No,no.Youaren’tunderstandingwhatI’msaying.Ifyouareadopted,youcanbethrownoutatany

time.Whatwillyoudothen?’SitaputthetwigdownandlookedatKaamlwithcoldeyes.Thiswouldhavebeenagoodmomentfor

theboytoshutup.Regrettably,hedidnothavetoomuchsense.‘Icanseethattheteacherslikeyou.Gurujilikesyoualot.Youcancomebackhereandteachallday

whenyougetthrownoutofyourhome!’Kaamlbrokeintomaniacallaughter.Nooneelselaughed.Infact,

thetensionintheairwascracklingdangerously.‘Sita…’pleadedRadhika,againadvisingcalm.‘Letitbe…’Sita ignored Radhika’s advice yet again. She slowly got up and walked towards Kaaml. The boy

swallowedhard,buthedidnotstepback.Sita’shandswerelockedtightlybehindherback.Shestoppedwithinaninchofheradversary.Shelookedathimandglared.Straightintohiseyes.Kaaml’sbreathhadquickenednervously,andthetwitchinhistempleshowedthathiscouragewasrapidlydisappearing.Buthestoodhisground.Sitatookonemorethreateningstep.DangerouslyclosetoKaaml.Hertoewasnowtouchingtheboy’s.

Thetipofhernosewaslessthanacentimetrefromhisface.Hereyesflashedfire.SweatbeadshadformedonKaaml’sforehead.‘Listen…youarenotallowedtohitanyone…’Sitakepthereyeslockedwithhis.Shekeptstaring.Unblinking.Cold.Breathingheavily.Kaaml’svoiceemergedinasqueak.‘Listen…’Sitasuddenlyscreamedloudly;anear-splittingsoundright inKaaml’sface.Aforceful,strong,high-

pitchedbellow.AstartledKaamlfellback,flatonthegroundandburstintotears.And,theotherchildrenburstintolaughter.Ateacherappearedseeminglyfromnowhere.‘Ididn’thithim!Ididn’thithim!’‘Sita…’Sitaallowedherselftobeledawaybytheteacher.‘ButIdidn’thithim!’

‘Hanubhaiya!’cooedRadhikaasshehuggedherelderbrother.Ormorespecifically,hereldercousinbrother.RadhikahadaskedSitaalongtomeetherfavouriterelative.Themeetingplacewasaroundanhour’s

walkfromthegurukul,deep in the jungles to thesouth, inawell-hiddenclearing.Thiswaswhere thecousinsmet.Insecret.Herbrotherhadgoodreasonstoremaininvisibletothegurukulauthorities.HewasaNaga;apersonbornwithdeformities.Hewasdressed inadark-browndhotiwithawhiteangvastram.Fair-skinned.Tall andhirsute.An

outgrowthjuttedoutfromhislowerback,almostlikeatail.Itflappedwithrhythmicprecision,asthoughithadamindofitsown.Hismassivebuildandsturdymusculaturegavehimanawe-inspiringpresence.Almostagodlyaura.Hisflatnosewaspressedagainsthisface,whichinturnwasoutlinedwithfacialhair,encirclingitwithneatprecision.Strangelythough,theskinaboveandbelowhismouthwashairless,silkensmoothandlightpinkincolour;ithadapuffedappearance.Hislipswereathin,barelynoticeableline.Thickeyebrowsdrewasharp,artisticcurveabovecaptivatingeyesthatradiatedintelligenceandameditativecalm. Italmostseemed like theAlmightyhad taken thefaceofamonkeyandplaced itonaman’shead.HelookedatRadhikawithalmostpaternalaffection.‘Howareyou,mylittlesister?’Radhikastuckherlowerlipoutinmockanger.‘HowlonghasitbeensinceIsawyoulast?Eversince

fatherallowedthatnewgurukultocomeup…’Radhika’sfatherwasthechiefofavillagealongtheriverShon.Hehadrecentlygivenpermissionfora

gurukul to be set up close to the village. Four young boys had been enrolled. There were no otherstudents.SitahadwonderedwhyRadhikawasstillinRishiShvetaketu’sgurukul,whenanotherwasnowso close to home.Maybe a small, four-student gurukul was not as good as their Guruji’s renownedschool.‘SorryRadhika,I’vebeenverybusy,’saidtheman.‘I’vebeengivenanewassignmentand…’‘Idon’tcareaboutyournewassignment!’

Radhika’sbrotherquicklychangedthetopic.‘Aren’tyougoingtointroducemetoyournewfriend?’Radhikastaredathimforafewmoreseconds,thensmiledinsurrenderandturnedtoherfriend.‘This

isSita,theprincessofMithila.Andthisismyelderbrother,Hanubhaiya.’HegavehisnewacquaintanceabroadsmileashefoldedhishandsintoaNamaste.‘Hanubhaiya is

whatlittleRadhikacallsme.MynameisHanuman.’Sitafoldedherhandstoo,andlookedupatthekindlyface.‘IthinkIpreferHanubhaiya.’Hanumanlaughedwarmly.‘ThenHanubhaiyaitis!’

Sitahadspentfiveyearsinthegurukul.Shewasthirteenyearsoldnow.Thegurukul was built on the southern banks of the holy Ganga, a short distance downriver from

Magadh,wherethefeistySarayumergedintothesedateGanga.Itslocationwassoconvenientthatmanyrishisandrishikasfromvariousashramsusedtodropintothisgurukul.They,usually,eventaughtforafewmonthsasvisitingteachers.Indeed,MaharishiVishwamitrahimselfwasonavisittothegurukulrightnow.Heandhisfollowers

enteredthefrugalashram,hometoalmosttwenty-fivestudents.‘Namaste,greatMalayaputra,’saidShvetaketu,foldinghishandstogetherandbowingtothelegendary

rishi,chiefofthetribeleftbehindbythesixthVishnu,LordParshuRam.TheMalayaputrasweretaskedwithtwomissions:tohelpthenextMahadev,DestroyerofEvil,ifandwhenheorshearose.And,togiverisetothenextVishnu,PropagatorofGood,whenthetimewasright.The gurukul was electrified by the presence of the great Maharishi Vishwamitra; considered a

SaptrishiUttradhikari,successor to the legendarysevenrishis. Itwasasingularhonour,greater thanreceivinganyofthemenandwomenofknowledgewhohadvisitedbefore.‘Namaste,Shvetaketu,’saidVishwamitraimperiously,ahintofasmileplayingonhisface.The staff at thegurukul had immediately set towork. Some helped the sage’s followerswith their

luggageandhorses,whileothersrushedtocleanthealreadyspick-and-spanguestquarters.Arishtanemi,themilitarychiefoftheMalayaputrasandtheright-handmanofVishwamitra,organisedtheeffortslikethebattlecommanderthathewas.‘Whatbringsyoutotheseparts,GreatOne?’askedShvetaketu.‘Ihadsomeworkupriver,’saidVishwamitra,enigmatically,refusingtoelaborate.Shvetaketu knew better than to ask anymore questions on this subject to the fearsomeMalayaputra

chief.Butanattemptatconversationwaswarranted.‘Raavan’stradetreatiesarecausingimmensepaintothekingdomsoftheSaptSindhu,nobleGuru.Peoplearesufferingandbeingimpoverished.Somebodyhastofighthim.’Almost seven feet tall, the dark-skinned Vishwamitra was altogether of unreal proportions, both

physically and in intellect.His large belly lay under a sturdy chest,muscular shoulders, andpowerfularms.Aflowingwhitebeardgrazedhischest.Brahminical, tuftofknottedhaironanotherwiseshavenhead.Large,limpideyes.Andtheholyjanau,sacredthread,tiedoverhisshoulder.Instartlingcontrastwerethenumerousbattlescarsthatlinedhisfaceandbody.HelookeddownatShvetaketufromhisgreatheight.‘Therearenokingstodaywhocantakeonthis task,’saidVishwamitra.‘Theyareall justsurvivors.

Notleaders.’‘Perhapsthistaskisbeyondthatofmerekings,IllustriousOne…’Vishwamitra’ssmilebroadenedmysteriously.Butnowordsfollowed.Shvetaketuwouldnotletdownhisneedforinteractionwiththegreatman.‘Forgivemyimpertinence,

Maharishiji,buthowlongdoyouexpecttostaywithus?Itwouldbewonderfulifmystudentscouldget

thebenefitofyourguidance.’‘Iwillbehereforonlyafewdays,Shvetaketu.Teachingyourchildrenmaynotbepossible.’Shvetaketuwasabouttorepeathisrequest,aspolitelyaspossible,whenaloudsoundwasheard.Aspeedywhooshfollowedbyaloudthwack!Vishwamitra hadoncebeen aKshatriyawarrior prince.He recognised the sound immediately.Of a

spearhittingawoodentarget.Almostperfectly.He turned in the direction that the sound had emerged from, his brows lifted slightly in admiration.

‘Someoneinyourgurukulhasastrongthrowingarm,Shvetaketu.’Shvetaketusmiledproudly.‘Letmeshowyou,Guruji.’

‘Sita?’askedVishwamitra,surprisedbeyondwords.‘Janak’sdaughter,Sita?’VishwamitraandShvetaketuwereatoneendofthesparsebutwell-equippedoutdoortrainingarena,

wherestudentspractisedarchery,spear-throwingandotheranangaweapontechniques.Attheotherendwasaseparateareasetasideforthepracticeofangaweaponslikeswordsandmaces.Sita,immersedinherpractice,didnotseethetworishisastheysilentlywalkedinandwatchedhergetreadyforthenextthrow.‘Shehas thewisdomofKingJanak,greatMalayaputra,’ answeredShvetaketu. ‘But shealsohas the

pragmatismandfightingspiritofQueenSunaina.And,dareIsay,mygurukulteachershavemouldedherspiritwell.’VishwamitraobservedSitawithakeeneye.Tallforathirteen-yearold,shewasalreadybeginningto

buildmuscle.Herstraight,jet-blackhairwasbraidedandrolledintoapracticalbun.Sheflickedaspearupwithherfoot,catchingitexpertlyinherhand.Vishwamitranoticedthestylishflick.Buthewasmoreimpressedbysomethingelse.Shehadcaughtthespearexactlyatthebalancepointontheshaft.Whichhadnot beenmarked, unlike in a normal training spear. She judged it, instinctively perhaps. Even from adistance, he could see that her grip was flawless. The spear shaft lay flat on the palm of her hand,betweenherindexandmiddlefinger.Herthumbpointedbackwardswhiletherestofthefingersfacedtheotherdirection.Sita turned to the targetwith her left foot facing it. Itwas awooden board paintedwith concentric

circles.Sheraisedher lefthand,again in thesamedirection.Herbodytwistedeversoslightly, toaddpowertothethrow.Shepulledherrighthandback,paralleltotheground;poisedasaworkofart.Perfect.Shvetaketusmiled.Thoughhedidnotteachwarfaretohisstudents,hewaspersonallyproudofSita’s

prowess.‘Shedoesn’ttakethetraditionalfewstepsbeforeshethrows.Thetwistinherbodyandstrengthinhershouldersgiveherallthepowersheneeds.’Vishwamitra looked dismissively at Shvetaketu.He turned his attention back to the impressive girl.

Those fewstepsmayaddpower,butcouldalsomakeyoumiss the target.Especially if the targetwassmall.HedidnotbothertoexplainthatlittledetailtoShvetaketu.Sitaflunghardasshetwistedherbodyleftward,puttingthepowerofhershoulderandbackintothe

throw.Whippingthespearforwardwithherwristandfinger.Givingthefinalthrusttothemissile.Whooshandthwack!Thespearhitbangontarget.Rightatthecentreoftheboard.Itjostledforspacewiththeearlierspear

whichhadpiercedthesamesmallcircle.Vishwamitrasmiledslightly.‘Notbad…Notbadatall…’What her two spectators did not knowwas that Sita had been taking lessons fromHanuman, on his

regularvisitstoseehistwosisters.Hehadhelpedperfecthertechnique.

Shvetaketusmiledwiththeprideofaparent.‘Sheisexceptional.’‘WhatisherstatusinMithilanow?’Shvetaketu tookadeepbreath. ‘I can’t be sure.She is their adopteddaughter.And,King Janakand

QueenSunainahavealwayslovedherdearly.Butnowthat…’‘IbelieveSunainawasblessedwithadaughterafewyearsback,’interruptedVishwamitra.‘Yes.Aftermorethanadecadeofmarriage.Theyhavetheirownnatural-borndaughternow.’‘Urmila,right?’‘Yes,thatishername.QueenSunainahassaidthatshedoesnotdifferentiatebetweenthetwogirls.But

shehasnotvisitedSitaforninemonths.Sheusedtocomeeverysixmonthsearlier.Admittedly,Sitahasbeen called to Mithila regularly. She last visited Mithila six months ago. But she didn’t return veryhappy.’Vishwamitra lookedatSita,hishandonhis chin.Thoughtful.Hecould seeher facenow. It seemed

strangelyfamiliar.Buthecouldn’tplaceit.

Itwas lunchtime at thegurukul. Vishwamitra and hisMalayaputras sat in the centre of the courtyard,surrounded by the simplemud huts that housed the students. It also served as an open-air classroom.Teachingwas always done in the open.The small, austere huts for the teacherswere a short distanceaway.‘Guruji,shallwebegin?’askedArishtanemi,theMalayaputramilitarychief.Thestudentsandthegurukulstaffhadservedthehonouredguestsonbananaleafplates.Shvetaketusat

alongside Vishwamitra, waiting for the Chief Malayaputra to commence the ceremony. Vishwamitrapickeduphisglass,pouredsomewaterintothepalmofhisrighthand,andsprinkleditaroundhisplate,thankingGoddessAnnapurnaforherblessingsintheformoffoodandnourishment.Hescoopedthefirstmorseloffoodandplaceditaside,asasymbolicofferingtotheGods.Everyonerepeatedtheaction.AtasignalfromVishwamitra,theybeganeating.Vishwamitra, however, paused just as hewas about to put the firstmorsel into hismouth.His eyes

scannedthepremisesinsearchofaman.OneofhissoldierswasaNagacalledJatayu.Theunfortunatemanhadbeenbornwithacondition that led todeformitiesonhis faceover time,classifyinghimasaNaga.Hisdeformitiesweresuchthathisfacelookedlikethatofavulture.ManyostracisedJatayu.ButnotVishwamitra.TheChiefMalayaputrarecognisedthepowerfulwarriorandnoblesoulthatJatayuwas.Others,withprejudicedeyes,wereblindtohisqualities.Vishwamitraknewthebiasesthatexistedinthetimes.Healsoknewthatinthisashram,itwasunlikely

thatanybodywouldhavebotheredtotakecareofJatayu’smeals.Helookedaround,tryingtofindhim.HefinallysawJatayu,sittingaloneinthedistance,underatree.Evenashewasabouttosignalastudent,hesawSitaheadingtowardstheNaga,abanana-leafplateinonehand,andatrayfulloffoodintheother.TheMaharishiwatched,asJatayustoodupwithcoyamazement.Fromthedistance,Vishwamitracouldnothearwhatwasbeingsaid.Butheread thebody language.

Withutmostrespect,Sitaplacedthebanana-leafplateinfrontofJatayu,thenservedthefood.AsJatayusatdowntoeatwithanembarrassedsmile,shebowedlow,foldedherhandsintoaNamasteandwalkedaway.VishwamitrawatchedSita,lostinthought.WherehaveIseenthatfacebefore?Arishtanemi,too,wasobservingthegirl.HeturnedtoVishwamitra.‘Sheseemslikearemarkablegirl,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi.‘Hmm,’ saidVishwamitra, as he looked at his lieutenant very briefly.He turned his attention to his

food.

Chapter6

‘Kaushik,thisisnotagoodidea,’saidDivodas.‘Trustme,mybrother.’KaushikandDivodassatonalargeboulderoutsidetheirgurukul,onthebanksoftheKaveriRiver.

The two friends,both in their late thirties,were teachersat theGurukulofMaharishiKashyap, thecelebrated SaptrishiUttradhikari, successor to the seven legendary seers.Kaushik andDivodas hadbeenstudentsofthegurukulintheirchildhood.Upongraduation,theyhadgonetheirseparateways.Divodas had excelled as a teacher of great renown and Kaushik, as a fine Kshatriya royal. Twodecades later, they had joined the prestigious institution again, this time as teachers. They hadinstantlyrekindledtheirchildhoodfriendship.Infact,theywerelikebrothersnow.Inprivate,theystillreferredtoeachotherbythegurukulnamesoftheirstudentdays.‘Why is it not a good idea, Divodas?’ asked Kaushik, his massive, muscular body bent forward

aggressively,asusual.‘TheyarebiasedagainsttheVaanars.WeneedtochallengethisprejudiceforthegoodofIndia!’Divodasshookhishead.Butrealisedthatfurtherconversationwaspointless.Hehadlonggivenup

tryingtochallengeKaushik’sstubbornstreak.Itwaslikebangingyourheadagainstananthill.Notagoodidea!Hepickedupaclaycupkeptbyhisside.Itcontainedabubbly,milkyliquid.Heheldhisnoseand

gulpeditdown.‘Yuck!’Kaushikburstintolaughterashepattedhisfriendheartilyonhisback.‘Evenafteralltheseyears,

itstilltasteslikehorse’spiss!’Divodaswipedhismouthwith thebackofhishandandsmiled. ‘Youneed tocomeupwithanew

line!Howdoyouknowittasteslikehorse’spiss,anyway?Haveyoueverdrunkhorse’spiss?!’Kaushiklaughedlouderandheldhisfriendbytheshoulder.‘IhavehadtheSomrasoften.AndI’m

sureevenhorse’spisscan’ttasteworse!’Divodas smiledbroadlyandput his armaroundhis friend’s shoulder.They sat on theboulder in

companionablesilence,watching thesacredKaverias it flowedgentlybyMayuram, thesmall townthathousedtheirgurukul.Thetownwasashortdistancefromthesea,andtheperfectlocationforthismassive gurukul, which taught hundreds of young students. More importantly, it also offeredspecialisedcoursesinhigherstudiesindifferentfieldsofknowledge.Beingclosetothesea,studentsfrom the Sapt Sindhu in the North could conveniently sail down the eastern coast of India to thegurukul.Thus, theydidnotneedtocrosstheNarmadaRiverfromthenorthtosouth,andviolatethesuperstitiousbelief that instructedagainst it.Furthermore, thisgurukulwasclose to the submerged,prehistoriclandofSangamtamil,whichalongwiththesubmergedancientlandofDwarkainwesternIndia,was one of the two fatherlands of Vedic culture. Thismade its location uniquely holy to thestudents.Divodasbracedhisshoulders,asifgatheringresolve.Kaushik,knowingwellthenon-verbalcuesofhisfriend,remarked,‘What?’Divodastookadeepbreath.Heknewthiswouldbeadifficultconversation.Buthedecidedtotry

onemoretime.‘Kaushik,listentome.IknowyouwanttohelpTrishanku.And,Iagreewithyou.Heneedshelp.Heisagoodman.Perhapsimmatureandnaive,butagoodmannonetheless.Buthecannot

becomeaVayuputra.Hefailedtheirexamination.Hemustacceptthat.Ithasnothingtodowithhowhelooksorwherehewasborn.Itisabouthiscapability.’The Vayuputras were the tribe left behind by the previousMahadev, Lord Rudra. They lived far

beyond the western borders of India in a place called Pariha. The Vayuputras were tasked withsupportingthenextVishnu,wheneverheorshearose.And,ofcourse,oneofthemwouldbecomethenextMahadevwheneverEvilraiseditsdangeroushead.Kaushikstiffened.‘TheVayuputrasareintoleranttowardstheVaanarsandyouknowit.’TheVaanarswerealarge,powerful,andreclusivetribelivingonthebanksofthegreatTungabhadra

River,northoftheKaveri.TheTungabhadrawasatributaryoftheKrishnaRiverfarthertothenorth.Thetribehadadistinctlydifferentappearance:Mostlyshort,stockyandverymuscular,someofthemweregiant-liketoo.Theirfaceswereframedwithfine,facialhair,whichballoonedintoabeardatthejaw.Theirmouthsprotrudedoutwards,and theskinarounditwassilkensmoothandhairless.Theirhirsutebodiessportedthick,almostfurryhair.Tosomeprejudicedpeople,theVaanarsappeared likemonkeysand thus, somehow, lesshuman. Itwas said that similar tribes lived farther to thewestofPariha.OneoftheirbiggestandmostancientsettlementswasalandcalledNeanderthalorthevalleyofNeander.‘What intolerance are you talking about?’ asked Divodas, his hand raised in question. ‘They

acceptedyoungMarutiintotheirfold,didn’tthey?MarutiisaVaanartoo.Buthehasmerit.Trishankudoesn’t!’Kaushikwouldnotbedissuaded.‘Trishankuhasbeenloyaltome.Heaskedformyhelp.Iwillhelp

him!’‘ButKaushik,howcanyoucreateyourownversionofPariha?Thisisnotwise…’‘Ihavegivenhimmyword,Divodas.Willyouhelpmeornot?’‘Kaushik,ofcourseIwillhelp!But,brother,listen…’Suddenlyaloud,femininevoicewasheardfromadistance.‘Hey,Divodas!’KaushikandDivodasturnedaround.ItwasNandini.Anotherteacheratthegurukul.Andafriendto

both.Kaushikcastadark,injuredlookatDivodas,grittinghisteethsoftly.‘Guruji…’Vishwamitra’seyesflewopen,bringinghimbacktothepresentfromanancient,more-than-a-century-

oldmemory.‘Iamsorrytodisturbyou,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi,hishandsjoinedinapenitentNamaste.‘Butyou

hadaskedmetowakeyouwhenthestudentsassembled.’Vishwamitrasatupandgatheredhisangvastram.‘IsSitapresent?’‘Yes,Guruji.’

Shvetaketu sat on a chairplaced in adiscreet corner.Hewas clearly elated to see all the twenty-fivestudentsofhisgurukulgatheredintheopensquare.Vishwamitrasatontheroundplatformbuiltaroundthetrunkofthemainpeepaltree.Itwastheseatoftheteacher.ThegreatChiefMalayaputrawouldteachhisstudents,ifonlyforoneclass.ThiswasararehonourforShvetaketuandhisstudents.TheteachersofthegurukulandtheMalayaputrasstoodinsilencebehindShvetaketu.‘Haveyoulearntaboutourgreatancientempires?’askedVishwamitra.‘Andthereasonsfortheirrise

andfall?’Allthestudentsnoddedintheaffirmative.‘Allright, thensomeonetellme,whydid theempireof thedescendantsof thegreatEmperorBharat

decline?Anempirethatflourishedforcenturies,wasannihilatedwithinjusttwogenerations.Why?’

KaamlRajraisedhishand.Shvetaketugroanedsoftly.‘Yes?’askedVishwamitra.‘Guruji,’answeredKaaml, ‘theywereattackedbyforeignersandhad internal rebellionsat thesame

time.Theywerelikethekanchamarblesweplaywith.Everyonefromeverywherewashittingthemagainandagain.Howcouldtheempiresurvive?’Saying this, Kaaml guffawed uncontrollably, laughing as if he had just cracked the funniest joke in

human history. Everyone else remained silent. A few students at the back held their heads in shame.VishwamitrastaredatKaamlwithafrozenexpression.ThesameexpressionwasthendirectedtowardsShvetaketu.Notforthefirsttime,ShvetaketuconsideredsendingyoungKaamlbacktohisparents.Hereallywasa

strange,untrainablechild.VishwamitradidnotdeigntorespondtoKaamlandrepeatedhisquestion,thistimelookingdirectlyat

Sita.ButtheprincessofMithiladidnotanswer.‘Bhoomi,whydon’tyouanswer?’askedVishwamitra,usinghergurukulname.‘BecauseIamnotsure,Guruji.’Vishwamitrapointedtothefrontrow.‘Comehere,child.’SinceherlastvisittoMithila,Sitahadpreferredtobealone.Shemostlysatatthebackoftheclass.

HerfriendRadhikapattedherback,encouraginghertogo.AsSitacameforward,Vishwamitragesturedforher tosit.Thenhestaredathereyesclosely.Veryfewsageswereadeptatreadingpeople’smindsthroughtheireyes.Vishwamitrawasonesuchraresage.‘Tell me,’ said Vishwamitra, his eyes piercing through her mind. ‘Why did the Bhaaratas, the

descendantsofthegreatEmperorBharat,disintegratesosuddenly?’Sitafeltveryuncomfortable.Shefeltanoverpoweringurgetogetupandrun.Butsheknewshecould

notinsultthegreatMaharishi.Shechosetoanswer.‘TheBhaaratashadamassivestandingarmy.Theycouldhaveeasilyfoughtonmultiplebattlefronts.Buttheirwarriorswere…’‘Theywereuseless,’saidVishwamitra,completingSita’sthought.‘And,whyweretheyuseless?They

hadnoshortageofmoney,oftraining,ofequipment,orofwarweapons.’SitarepeatedsomethingshehadheardSamichisay.‘Whatmatters isnot theweapon,but thewoman

whowieldsthatweapon.’Vishwamitrasmiledinapproval.‘Andwhyweretheirwarriors incapableofwieldingweapons?Do

notforget,thesewereweaponsoffarsuperiortechnologythanthoseoftheirenemies.’Sitahadnotthoughtaboutthis.Sheremainedsilent.‘DescribetheBhaaratsocietyatthetimeoftheirdownfall,’Vishwamitrademanded.Sitaknewthisanswer.‘Itwaspeaceful.Aliberalandpolitesociety.Itwasahavenforarts,culture,

music, conversations, debates … They not only practised but proudly celebrated non-violence. Bothverbalandphysical.Itwasaperfectsociety.Likeheaven.’‘True.Butthereweresomeforwhomitwashell.’Sitadidnotsayanything.Buthermindwondered:Forwhom?Vishwamitrareadhermindasifshehadspokenaloud.Heanswered,‘Thewarriors.’‘Thewarriors?’‘Whatarethechiefqualitiesofwarriors?Whatdrivesthem?Whatmotivatesthem?Yes,therearemany

whofightforhonour,forthecountry,foracode.Butequally,therearethosewhosimplywantasociallysanctionedwaytokill.Ifnotgivenanoutlet,suchpeoplecaneasilyturntocrime.Manygreatwarriors,celebrated by humanity, narrowly escaped being remembered as social degenerates.What saved themfrombecoming criminals and instead, turned them into soldiers?The answer is thewarrior code:Therightreasontokill.’It’sdifficultforachildtosurrendercertaintiesandunderstandnuances.Sita,afterall justathirteen-

year-old,stiffened.‘Warriors thrive on admiration and heroworship.Without these, thewarrior spirit, andwith it, the

warriorcode,dies.Sadly,manyinthelatter-dayBhaaratsocietydespisedtheirsoldiersandpreferredtocondemnthem.Everyactionofthearmywasvehementlycriticised.Anyformofviolence,evendharmicviolence, was opposed. The warrior spirit itself was berated as a demonic impulse that had to becontrolled. Itdidn’tstop there.Freedomofspeechwascurtailedso thatverbalviolencecouldalsobecontrolled.Disagreementwasdiscouraged.ThisishowtheBhaaratasfeltthatheavencouldbecreatedonearth;bymakingstrengthpowerless,andweaknesspowerful.’Vishwamitra’svoicebecamesofter,almostasifhewasspeakingonlytoSita.Theassemblylistenedin

raptattention.‘Essentially, the Bhaaratas curbed their Kshatriya class drastically. Masculinity was emasculated.

Great sages of yorewho preached absolute non-violence and lovewere glorified and theirmessagesamplified. But then, when barbaric invaders attacked from foreign lands, these pacifist, non-violentBhaaratmenandwomenwere incapableof fightingback.These civilisedpeople appeared likeweakwimpstothebrutalwarriorsfromabroad.’Withanironiclaugh,Vishwamitracontinued,‘Unexpectedly,forthepeopleofBhaaratsociety,theHiranyalomanMlechchawarriorsdidnotcarefortheirmessageoflove. Their answer to lovewasmassmurder. Theywere barbarians, incapable of building their ownempire.ButtheydestroyedBhaaratpowerandprestige.Internalrebelsfinishedthejobofdestruction.’‘Guruji,areyousayingthattofightforeignmonsters,youneedyourownmonsters?’‘No.AllI’msayingisthatsocietymustbewaryofextremes.Itmustconstantlystrivetowardsattaining

a balance among competing ideologies. Criminals must be removed from society, and meaninglessviolencemust be stopped. But thewarrior spiritmust not be demonised.Do not create a society thatdemeansmasculinity.Toomuchofanythingcreatesanimbalanceinlife.Thisistrueevenofvirtuessuchas nonviolence.You never knowwhen thewinds of change strike;when violencemay be required toprotectyoursociety,ortoevensurvive.’Therewaspin-dropsilence.Itwastime.Vishwamitraaskedthequestionhehadsteeredtheconversationtowards.‘Isthereanextremismthatthe

SaptSindhusurrenderedtowhichallowedRaavantodefeatthem?’Sitaconsideredthequestioncarefully.‘Yes,resentmentandhatredtowardsthetradingclass.’‘Correct.Inthepast,becauseofafewmonstersamongtheirwarriors,theBhaaratasattackedtheentire

Kshatriya way of life. They became pathologically non-violent. There have been societies that haveattacked theBrahminwayof life, becomingproudly anti-intellectual, because a fewof theirBrahminsbecameclosed-minded,elitistandexclusivist.AndtheSaptSindhuinouragebegantodemeantradingitself when a few of their Vaishyas became selfish, ostentatious, and money-grubbing. We graduallypushedtradeoutofthehandsofthe‘evil-moneyedcapitalists’ofourownsociety,andintothehandsofothers.Kubaer,andlaterRaavan,justgatheredthemoneyslowly,andeconomicpowerflowednaturallytothem.TheBattleofKarachapawasonlyaformalitythatsealedlonghistoricaltrends.Asocietymustalwaysaimforbalance.Itneedsintellectuals,itneedswarriors,itneedstraders,itneedsartists,anditneedsskilledworkers.Ifitempowersonegrouptoomuchoranothertoolittle,itisheadedforchaos.’Sita recalled somethingshehadheard inoneof thedharmasabhas ofher father. ‘Theonly“ism” I

believein,ispragmatism.’ItwassaidbyaCharvakphilosopher.‘AreyoucommittedtoCharvakphilosophy?’askedVishwamitra.TheCharvakSchoolofphilosophywasnamedaftertheirancientfounder,anatheistwhobelievedin

materialism.Hehad livednearGangotri, thesourceof theholyGanga.TheCharvaksonlybelieved inwhatcouldbesensedbythephysicalsenses.Accordingtothem,therewasneitherasoul,noranyGods.

Theonlyrealitywasthisbody,amixoftheelements,whichwouldreturntotheelementsonceitdied.They lived for the day and enjoyed life. Their admirers saw them as liberal, individualistic and non-judgemental.Ontheotherhand,theircriticssawthemasimmoral,selfishandirresponsible.‘No, I amnot committed to theCharvaks,Guruji. If I ampragmatic, then I should be open toevery

schoolofphilosophy.Andacceptonlythosepartsthatmakesensetome,whilerejectingotherbitsthatdon’t.Ishouldlearnfromanyphilosophythatcanhelpmefulfilmykarma.’Vishwamitrasmiled.Smart,verysmartforathirteen-year-old.

Chapter7

Sita sat by the pond, reading Nyayasutra, the classic text which introduced a key school of Indianphilosophy,NyayaDarshan.AfewmonthshadpassedsinceVishwamitrahadvisitedRishiShvetaketu’sgurukul.‘Bhoomi,’saidRadhika,usingthegurukulnameofSita,‘someonefromyourhomehascometomeet

you.’Sitasighedwithirritation.‘Can’ttheywait?’ShewascompilingalistofquestionsshewantedtoaskRishiShvetaketu.Nowtheexercisewouldbe

delayed.

Samichistoodpatiently,closetothejetty.WaitingforSita.Aposseoftenmenstoodbehindher.Theywereunderhercommand.Samichiwasnotthegirlfromtheslumsanymore.Havingjoinedthepolice,shewasarapidlyrising

star there. Itwas commonknowledge that the royal family liked her, indebted as theywere to her forhavingsavedPrincessSitaintheMithilaslums.Peoplewereguardedinherpresence.Nobodyknewherexactage,includingSamichiherself.Herappearancesuggestedthatshewasinherearly twentiesnow.Forawomanofherage,notbornintonobility,tobecommandingaposseinthepoliceforcewasararehonour.Butthen,shehadsavedtheprincess.‘Samichi!’Samichigroanedassherecognisedthevoice.Itwasthatridiculousboy,KaamlRaj.Hewaspantingby

thetimeheranuptoher.Excited.‘Someonetoldmeyouwerehere.IcameasfastasIcould.’Samichi lookedat the twelve-year-old.Hehelda red rose inhishands.Shenarrowedhereyesand

resistedthetemptationtoshovehim.‘I’vetoldyou…’‘Ithoughtyou’dlikethisrose,’saidKaamlshyly.‘Isawyouenjoythefragranceoftheflowersthelast

timeyouwerehere.’Samichispokeinacoldwhisper.‘I’mnotinterestedinodoursofanykind.’Not to be deterred, Kaaml held out a hand, showing her his bleeding finger. A pathetic attempt to

extractsympathy.Hehadprickedhimselfrepeatedlywiththornsbeforeyankingtheflowerfromtherosebush.Seeingthatitwasn’tworking,hesteppedcloser.‘Doyouhavesomemedicineformyfinger?’Samichisteppedbacktoputsomedistancebetweenthem.Indoingso,shestumbledonastone.Justa

little.Kaamlrushedforwardtograbher.Thepoorboygenuinelywantedtohelp.Whathappenednextwasblindinginitsspeed.Samichiscreamedinanger,twistedhisarm,andviciouslykickedhimintheleg.AsKaamlfellforward,shebroughtherelbowupinabrutaljab.Itcrackedhisnose.Instantly.Kaamlclutchedhisbleedingnose,asSamichishoutedinanger,‘DONOTTOUCHME,EVER!’Kaamlwascryingdesperatelynow.Helayonthegroundinafrightenedheap.Bloodied.Trembling.

The policemen rushed forward and helped the boy to his feet. They cast a surreptitious, horror-filledglanceattheirleader.Allofthemhadthesamethought.

He’sonlyaboy!Whatiswrongwithher?Samichi’sstonyfaceshowednotraceofregret.ShesignalledaMithilapolicemanwithadismissive

waveofahand.‘Getthisidiotoutofhere.’The policeman lifted the boy gingerly and walked away to find the gurukul doctor. The other

policemenwalkedbacktothejettyinafearfulprocession.Theairwasthickwithunspokenwordsabouttheircaptain.SomethingisnotrightwithSamichi.‘Samichi.’All turned to see Princess Sita emerge from the trees.And, Samichi transformed like a chameleon.

Smilingbroadly,sherushedforwardwithwarmthoozingfromhereyes.‘Howareyou,Samichi?’askedSita,assheembracedherfriend.BeforeSamichicouldanswer,Sitaturnedtothepolicemenstandingatadistanceandpulledherhands

togetherintoaNamaste,alongwithawarmsmile.Thepolicemenbowedlow,alsofoldingtheirhandsintoaNamaste.‘Iwonderwhyyourmenalwayslooksoscared,’whisperedSita.Samichi grinned and shook her head, holding Sita’s hand, pulling her away, out of earshot of the

policemen.‘Forgetthem,Princess,’saidSamichi,hersmileaffectionate.‘I’vetoldyoubefore,Samichi,’saidSita,‘whenwearealone,callmeSita.NotPrincess.Youaremy

friend.Anyway,it’snotasifanyonethinksofmeasaprincessanymore.’‘Whateveranyonemaythink,IhavenodoubtthatyouareaprincessofMithila.’Sitarolledhereyes.‘Yeah,right.’‘Princess,Ihavebeensentto…’SitainterruptedSamichi.‘Sita.NotPrincess.’‘Apologies,Sita,youmustcomehome.’Sitasighed.‘YouknowIcan’t,Samichi.Ihavecausedenoughtroubleformaa.’‘Sita,don’tdothistoyourself.’‘Everyoneknowsabouttheincidentwithchacha.WhenIbrokehisroyalseal,’Sitarecalledheruncle

Kushadhwaj’slastvisittoMithila.‘HeisendlesslytroublingmaaandMithila.Everyoneblamesmeforit.Andrightlyso.Ishouldjuststayaway.’‘Sita,yourfatherandmothermissyou.QueenSunainaisverysick.Youreallyshould…’‘Nothing can happen tomaa. She is a superwoman. You are just saying this tomakeme leave the

gurukulandcomehome.’‘But…it’sthetruth.’‘ThetruthisthatmaashouldfocusonUrmilaandthekingdom.Youknowthatbaba is…distracted.

Youyourselfhavetoldmewhatthepeoplesayaboutme.Shedoesn’tneedmetoincreaseherproblems.’‘Sita…’‘Enough,’saidSita,raisingherhand.‘Idon’tfeelliketalkingaboutthisanymore.’‘Sita…’‘Ifeellikepractisingstick-fighting.Areyougame?’Anythingtochangethesubject,thoughtSamichi.‘Comeon,’saidSita,turningaround.Samichifollowed.

VishwamitrasatinthelotuspositioninhisausterehutattheGangaashramoftheMalayaputras.Hewasmeditating.Tryingtokeepallthoughtsoutofhismind.Buthewasfailingtoday.

Heheardawhistlingsound.Andrecogniseditimmediately.Itwasacommonhillmyna.Abirdthathasoftenbeencalledthemostamazingvocalist.Itcanwhistle,warble,shriek,andevenmimic.Whatisitdoingsofarawayfromhome?Intheplains?Hismindwanderedtoanincidentfromthepast.Whenhehadheardthemynainaplaceheshouldnot

have.Amazinghowthemindwanders…Soflightyandunpredictable…Thememoryofthatday,manydecadesago,nowcamefloodingback.Itwasthedayhehadreceivedthenewsofhisformerfriend,Vashishtha,beingappointedtherajguru

ofAyodhya.Vishwamitrafelthischestconstrict.Inanger.Andpain.Thatbackstabber…Ididsomuchforhim…Hismindwanderedtotheexactmomenthehadheardthenews.Attheashramof…Vishwamitra’seyessuddenlyflewopen.BythegreatLordParshuRam…Herememberedwherehehadseenthatface.Sita’sface.Hesmiled.Thisonlyreinforcedhisdecision.Thankyou,LordParshuRam.Youmademymindwanderonlytohelpmefindmypath.

‘Guruji…’whisperedArishtanemi.HestoodnexttoVishwamitraatthebalustradeoftheleadship.Theywereinafive-vesselconvoythat

wassailingdownthesacredGanga,ontheirwaytosuperviseasearchbeingconductedbytheirminersforsomespecialmaterial.ItwouldhelpthemacquireapowerfulweaponcalledtheAsuraastra,leavingthemlessdependentontheVayuputras.Centuriesago,LordRudra,thepreviousMahadev,hadrestrictedtheuseofdaiviastras.Theapproval

oftheVayuputras,thelivingrepresentativesofLordRudra,wasmandatoryforusingthedivineweapons.ThiswasnottoVishwamitra’slikingorcomfort.The great Maharishi had made elaborate plans. Plans which involved, perhaps, the use of the

Asuraastra. He knew the Vayuputras did not like him. Not since the episode with Trishanku. Theytoleratedhimbecausetheyhadnochoice.Hewas,afterall,chiefoftheMalayaputras.Whilethesearchwasaslowandtediousprocess,Vishwamitrawasconfidentthatthematerialwould

befound,eventually.Itwastimetomovetothenextphaseofhisplan.HehadtoselectaVishnu.Hehadjustrevealedhis

choicetoArishtanemi,histrustedlieutenant.‘Youdisagree?’askedVishwamitra.‘Sheisexceptionallycapable,Guruji.Nodoubtaboutit.Onecansenseit,evenathertenderage.But

…’Arishtanemi’svoicetrailedoff.VishwamitraputhishandonArishtanemi’sshoulder.‘Speakfreely.IamtalkingtoyoubecauseIwant

tohearyourviews.’‘I spent some time watching her carefully, Guruji. I think she is too rebellious. I am not sure the

Malayaputraswillbeabletomanageher.Or,controlher.’‘Wewill.Shehasnooneelse.Hercityhasabandonedher.Butshehasthepotentialtobegreat.She

wantstobegreat.Wewillbeherroutetorealisingit.’‘Butcan’twealsokeepsearchingforothercandidates?’‘YourtrustedaidesgatheredinformationonherinMithila,right?Mostofitwasveryencouraging.’‘ButtherewasthatcaseofherprobablykillingaboyintheMithilaslumswhenshewaseight.’

‘I see in that incident her ability to survive. Your investigators also said the boy was probably acriminal.Shefoughtherwaythrough,evenasasmallchild.That’sapositive.Shehasthefightingspirit.Wouldyourathershehaddiedlikeacoward?’‘No,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi.‘ButIamwonderingiftherearepossiblyothercandidatesthatwehave

notyetstumbledupon.’‘YoupersonallyknowalmosteveryroyalfamilyinIndia.Mostofthemarecompletelyuseless.Selfish,

cowardly,andweak.Andtheirnextgeneration,theroyalchildren,areevenworse.Theyarenothingbutgeneticgarbage.’Arishtanemilaughed.‘Fewcountrieshavehadthemisfortuneofbeingsaddledwithsuchaworthless

elite.’‘Wehavehadgreatleadersinthepast.Andwewillhaveagreatleaderinthefuturetoo.Onewhowill

pullIndiaoutofitspresentmorass.’‘Whynotfromthecommonfolk?’‘Wehavebeensearchingforalongtime.HadthatbeenLordParshuRam’swill,wewouldhavefound

onebynow.Anddon’tforget,Sitaisonlyanadoptedroyal.Herparentageisunknown.’VishwamitradidnotfeeltheneedtotellArishtanemiwhathesuspectedaboutSita’sbirth.Arishtanemiovercamehishesitation.‘IhaveheardthattheAyodhyaprinces…’TheMalayaputramilitary chief stoppedmid-sentencewhen he sawVishwamitra bristle.His famed

couragevanishedintothinair.ArishtanemihadindeedheardpositivereportsabouttheyoungprincesofAyodhya,particularlyRamandBharat.Ramwasalittlelessthannineyearsold.ButVashishthawastherajguruofAyodhya.And,VashishthawasasubjectArishtanemihadlearnedtoavoid.‘ThatsnakehastakentheAyodhyaprincestohisgurukul,’saidVishwamitra,angerboilingwithin.‘I

don’tevenknowwherehisashram is.Hehaskeptitasecret.IfIdon’tknowthennobodyknows.WeonlyhearaboutthefourbrotherswhentheyreturntoAyodhyaonholiday.’Arishtanemistoodlikeastatue,barelybreathing.‘IknowhowVashishtha’smindworks.Ihadmadethemistakeofconsideringhimmyfriendonce.Heis

uptosomething.EitherwithRamorBharat.’‘Sometimes, things don’t work out as planned, Guruji. Our work in Lanka inadvertently ended up

helping…’‘Raavan has his uses,’ interrupted Vishwamitra. ‘Don’t ever forget that. And, he is moving in the

directionweneedhimto.Itwillallworkout.’‘ButGuruji, can the Vayuputras oppose theMalayaputras? It is our prerogative to choose the next

Vishnu.NotthatoftherajguruofAyodhya.’‘Foralltheirshamneutrality,theVayuputraswilldoeverythingtheycantohelpthatrat.Iknowit.We

donothavemuchtime.Wemuststartpreparingnow!’‘Yes,Guruji.’‘And,ifsheistobetrainedforherrole,ittoomustbeginnow.’‘Yes,Guruji.’‘SitawillbetheVishnu.TheVishnuwillriseduringmyreign.Thetimehascome.Thiscountryneedsa

leader.WecannotallowourbelovedIndiatosufferendlessly.’‘Yes,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi.‘ShouldItelltheCaptainto…’‘Yes.’

‘Whereareyoutakingme,Radhika?’askedSita,smiling,asherfriendledherbythehand.Theywerewalkingdeepintotheforesttothesouthofthegurukul.

‘Hanubhaiya!’screamedSitaindelight,astheyenteredasmallclearing.Hanumanstoodnexttohishorse,rubbingthetiredanimal’sneck.Thehorsewastiedtoatree.‘Mysisters!’saidHanumanaffectionately.Thegentlegiantwalkeduptothem.Heenclosedthemtogetherinawarmembrace.‘Howarethetwo

ofyoudoing?’‘Youhavebeenawayforfartoolong!’Radhikacomplained.‘Iknow,’sighedHanuman.‘I’msorry.Iwasabroad…’‘Where do you keep going?’ asked Sita,who foundHanuman’smysterious life very exciting. ‘Who

sendsyouonthesemissions?’‘Iwilltellyouwhenthetimeisright,Sita…Butnotnow.’Hanumanreachedintothesaddlebagtiedtothehorseandpulledoutadelicatenecklacemadeofgold,

inastylethatwasobviouslyforeign.Radhikasquealedwithdelight.‘Youguesscorrectly,’smiledHanuman,ashehandedittoher.‘Thisoneisforyou…’Radhikaadmiredthenecklaceindetail,turningitaroundseveraltimesinherhands.‘Andforyou,myseriousone,’saidHanumantoSita.‘I’vegotwhatyou’vealwayswanted…’Sita’seyeswidened.‘AnekmukhiRudraaksh?!’ThewordRudraakshliterallymeanttheteardropofRudra.Inreality,itwasabrownellipticalseed.

Allwhowere loyal to theMahadev,LordRudra,wore threadedRudraakshbeadsorkeptone in theirpujarooms.AcommonRudraakshseedhadmanygroovesrunningacrossit.AnekmukhiRudraakshwasrare,andhadonlyonegrooveonitssurface.Verydifficult tofind.Expensivetoo.PricelessforSita,astaunchLordRudradevotee.Hanumansmiledashereachedintothesaddlebag.Suddenly, thehorsebecamefidgetyandnervous, itsears flickingbackandforth.Withinmoments its

breathingwasrapidandshallow.Conveyingpanic.Hanumanlookedaroundcarefully.Andhecaughtsightofthedanger.Veryslowly,withoutanysignofalarm,hepulledRadhikaandSitabehindhim.Thegirlsknewbetterthantotalk.They,too,couldsensedanger.Somethingwasseriouslywrong.Hanuman suddenlymadea loud, screeching sound; like thatof anagitatedmonkey.The tigerhidden

behindthetreeimmediatelyknewthatitselementofsurprisewasgone.Itwalkedoutslowly.Hanumanreachedforthescabbardtiedtohiscummerbundanddrewouthiscurvedknife.MadeinthestyleofthekhukurisofthefierceGorkhas,thebladeoftheknifewasnotstraight.Itthickenedatmid-length,andthenthethicksectioncurveddownwards.Likeaslopingshoulder.Atthehilt-end,thesharpsideofthebladehadadouble-wavenotch.Shapedlikeacow’sfoot.Itservedapracticalpurpose.Itallowedthebloodfromthebladetodriptotheground,insteadofspreadingtothehiltandmakingtheknife-holdslippery.Thecow’s foot indentationalsosignified that theweaponcouldneverbeused tokill aholycow.Thehandlewasmadeofivory.Atthehalfwaymark,aprotrusionemergedfromallsidesofthehilt.Itservedasapegbetweenthemiddlefingerandtheringfinger,makingthegripsecure.Thekhukurihadnocross-guardforathrustingaction.Aless-skilledwarrior’shandcouldslipforwardontotheblade,inathrust.Itcouldcauseseriousinjurytotheknife-wielder.ButnobodyintheirrightmindwouldcallHanumanlessthansupremelyskilled.‘Staybehindme,’whisperedHanumantothegirls,asthetigeredgedforwardslowly.Hanuman spread his legs apart and bent,maintaining his balance.Waiting. Forwhatwas to follow.

Keepinghisbreathingsteady.Withanear-splittingroar,thetigersuddenlyburstforward,goinguponitshindlegs,spreadingitsfront

legs out.Ready to hold themassiveHanuman in its grip. Its jaws openedwide, it headed straight forHanuman’sthroat.

Thetiger’stacticwassound:topplethehumanwithitsmassiveweight,pinhimtothegroundwithitsclaws,andrelyonitsjawstofinishthejob.Against a lesser enemy, it would have prevailed. But, to its misfortune, it had attacked the mighty

Hanuman.The giantNagawas almost as big as the tiger.With one foot back, he arched his spine, flexed his

powerfulmuscles;and,remainedonhisfeet.Usinghislefthand,heheldthetigerbyitsthroat,andkeptitsfearsomejawsaway.Hanumanallowedthetigertoclawhisback.Itwouldnotcausemuchdamage.Hepulledhisrighthandback,flexedhisshouldermusclesandbrutallythrustthekhukurideep into thetiger’sabdomen.Itsoutrageouslysharp-edgedbladeslicedinsmoothly.Thebeastroaredinpain.Itseyeswideinshock.Hanuman sucked in his breath and executed a draw-cut to the right, ripping deep into the beast’s

abdominalcavity.Allthewayfromoneendtotheother.Vicious,buteffective.Notonlydidmostofthebeast’sabdominalorgansgetslashed,theknifeevenslicedthroughabitofthebackboneandthenervesprotectedinside.The tiger’s slippery intestines slid out of its cleaved abdomen, its hind legs locked in paralysis.

Hanumanpushedthebeastback.Itfelltotheground,roaringinagonyasitsfrontlegslashedoutinalldirections.Hanumancouldhaveavoidedfurtherinjuryfromitsclawshadhewaitedforthetigertoweaken.And

let its front legsgodown.But theanimalwas inagony.Hewanted toend its suffering.Hanumanbentcloserevenasthetiger’sclawsdugdeepintohisshoulders.TheNagastabbedstraightintotheanimal’schest.Thebladecutrightthrough,slidingdeepintothebeast’sheart.Itstruggledforafewmomentsandthenitssoulescapeditsbody.Hanumanpulled thebladeout andwhispered softly, ‘Mayyour soul findpurposeonce again, noble

beast.’

‘Thesethingshappen,Radhika,’saidHanuman.‘We’reinthemiddleofajungle.Whatdoyouexpect?’Radhikawasstillshakingwithfear.Sita hadquickly pulledout themedical aid kit from the saddlebag anddressedHanuman’s injuries.

Theywerenotlife-threateningbutafewofthemweredeep.Sitastitchedacoupleofgapingwounds.Shefoundsomerejuvenatingherbsaroundtheclearingandmadeaninfusion,usingstonestogrindtheleaveswithsomewater.ShegaveittoHanumantodrink.AsHanumangulped themedicinedownandwipedhismouthwith thebackofhishand,hewatched

Sita.Sheisnotnervous…Shedidn’tgetscared…Thisgirlisspecial…‘Iwouldnothaveimaginedthatatigercouldbebroughtdownwithsuchease,’whisperedSita.‘Ithelpsifyou’remysize!’laughedHanuman.‘Areyousurethatyoucanride?Yourwoundsaren’tserious,but…’‘Ican’tstayhereeither.Ihavetogetback…’‘Anotherofyourmysteriousmissions?’‘Ihavetogo.’‘Youhavetodowhatyouhavetodo,Hanubhaiya.’Hanumansmiled.‘Don’tforgetyourRudraaksh.’Sitareachedintothesaddlebagandpulledoutasilkpouch.Sheopeneditslowly,carefullypickingup

theekmukhiRudraaksh.Shestaredatitinawe.Thensheheldittoherforeheadwithreverencebeforeslippingitintothepouchtiedtoherwaist.

Chapter8

Shvetaketucouldnotbelievehisluck.ThegreatVishwamitrahadarrivedathisgurukul for thesecondtimethisyear!HerushedtothegatesoftheashramastheMalayaputrasmarchedin.‘Namaste,GreatOne,’saidShvetaketu,smilingbroadly,hishandsjoinedtogetherinrespect.‘Namaste,Shvetaketu,’saidVishwamitra,smilingjustenoughtonotintimidatehishost.‘Whatanhonourtohaveyoucallonourgurukulsosoonafteryourlastvisit.’‘Yes,’saidVishwamitra,lookingaround.‘It is unfortunate that my students are not here to gain from your presence,’ said Shvetaketu, his

expressionreflectingheartfeltregret.‘Mostofthemareawayonvacation.’‘ButIbelieveafewhavestayedback.’‘Yes,IllustriousOne.Sitaishere…And…’‘IwouldliketomeetSita.’‘Ofcourse.’

SitastoodwithMaharishiVishwamitranearthebalustradeattheedgeofthemaindeckofhisanchoredship,facingthefarbankoftheGanga.Vishwamitrahadwantedprivacy,awayfromthecuriouseyesoftheteachersinthegurukul.Asmallbrick-laidyagnakundwasbeingreadiedbytheMalayaputrapanditsonthemaindeckoftheship,alittledistanceawayfromSitaandVishwamitra.Sitawasconfused.WhydoestheMaharishiwanttospeaktome?‘Howoldareyounow,Sita?’‘Iwillturnfourteensoon,Guruji.’‘That’snottooold.Wecanbegin,Ithink.’‘Beginwhat,Guruji?’Vishwamitratookadeepbreath.‘HaveyouheardoftheinstitutionoftheVishnu?’‘Yes,Guruji.’‘Tellmewhatyouknow.’‘Itisatitlegiventothegreatestofleaders,whoarePropagatorsofGood.Theyleadtheirpeopleintoa

newwayof life.There have been sixVishnus in this presentVedic age thatwe live in.The previousVishnuwasthegreatLordParshuRam.’‘JaiParshuRam.’‘JaiParshuRam.’‘Whatelsedoyouknow?’‘The Vishnus normally work in partnership with the Mahadevs, who are Destroyers of Evil. The

Mahadevsassignatribeastheirrepresentativesoncetheirkarmainaparticularlifeisover.ThetribeofthepreviousMahadev,LordRudra,istheVayuputraswholiveinfarawayPariha.TheVishnuofouragewillworkinclosepartnershipwith…’‘Thispartnershipthingisnotnecessarilyimportant,’interruptedVishwamitra.Sitafellsilent.Surprised.Thiswasnotwhatshehadlearnt.

‘Whatelsedoyouknow?’‘Iknowthat thepreviousVishnu,LordParshuRam, leftbehinda tribeaswell—theMalayaputras.

Andyou,Maharishiji,arethechiefoftheMalayaputras.AndifaVishnumustriseinourage,tofightthedarknessthatenvelopsus,itmustbeyou.’‘Youarewrong.’Sitafrowned.Confused.‘Theassumptionyoumadeinyourlaststatementiswrong,’clarifiedVishwamitra.‘Yes,Iamthechief

oftheMalayaputras.ButIcannotbetheVishnu.MytaskistodecidewhothenextVishnuwillbe.’Sitanoddedsilently.‘WhatdoyouthinkisthemainproblemcorrodingIndiatoday?’‘MostpeoplewillsayRaavan,butIwon’t.’Vishwamitrasmiled.‘Whynot?’‘Raavan is only a symptom. He is not the disease. If it hadn’t been Raavan, it would have been

someoneelsetorturingus.Thefaultliesinus,thatweallowourselvestobedominated.Raavanmaybepowerful,butifwe…’‘RaavanisnotaspowerfulasthepeopleofSaptSindhuthinkheis.Butherevelsinthisimageofthe

monsterthathehascreatedforhimself.Thatimageintimidatesothers.Butthatimageisusefulforusaswell,’saidVishwamitra.Sitadidn’tunderstandthatlastline.And,Vishwamitrachosenottoexplain.‘So,yousaythatRaavanisonlyasymptom.Then,whatisthediseaseafflictingtheSaptSindhutoday?’Sitapausedtoformulateherthoughts.‘I’vebeenthinkingaboutthissinceyouspoketousatthegurukul

last year,Guruji.You said society needs balance. It needs intellectuals,warriors, traders, and skilledworkers.Andthat ideally, thescaleshouldnotbetippedagainstanygroup.That thereshouldbeafairbalancebetweenall.’‘And…’‘So, why is it that society always moves towards imbalance? That’s what I was thinking. It gets

unbalanced when people are not free to live a life that is in alignment with their innate guna, theirattributes.Itcanhappenwhenagroupisoppressedorbelittled,liketheVaishyasinSaptSindhutoday.ItmakesthosewithVaishyagunasfrustratedandangry.Itcanalsohappenwhenyou’remadetofollowtheoccupation of your parents and clan, rather than what you may want to pursue. Raavan was born aBrahmin.ButheclearlydidnotwanttobeaBrahmin.HeisaKshatriyabynature.Itmusthavebeenthesamewith…’Sitastoppedherselfintime.ButVishwamitrawasstaringdirectlyintohereyes,readingherthoughts.

‘Yes,ithappenedwithmetoo.IwasbornaKshatriyabutwantedtobeaBrahmin.’‘Peoplelikeyouarerare,Guruji.Mostpeoplesurrendertothepressureofsocietyandfamily.Butit

builds terrible frustrationwithin. These are unhappy and angry people, living unbalanced, dissatisfiedlives.Furthermore,societyitselfsuffers.ItmaygetstuckwithKshatriyaswhodonotpossessvalour,andcannotprotecttheirsociety.ItmaygetstuckwithBrahminswhoprefertobeskilledShudraslikemedicalsurgeonsorsculptors,andthereforewillbeterribleteachers.Andultimately,societywilldecline.’‘Youhavediagnosedtheproblemwell.So,whatisthesolution?’‘Idon’tknow.Howdoesonechangesociety?Howdowebreakdownthisbirth-basedcastesystem

thatisdestroyingournobleland?’‘Ihaveasolutioninmind.’Sitawaitedforanexplanation.‘Not now,’ said Vishwamitra. ‘I will explain one day. When you are ready. For now, we have a

ceremonytoconduct.’‘Ceremony?’

‘Yes,’saidVishwamitra,asheturnedtowardstheyagnakund,whichhadbeenbuiltatthecentreofthemain deck. Seven Malayaputra pandits waited at the other end of the deck. Upon a signal fromVishwamitra,theywalkeduptotheyagnakund.‘Come,’saidVishwamitra,asheledherforward.The yagna platform was built in an unorthodox manner, or at least one with which Sita was not

familiar.Ithadasquare,outerboundary,madeofbricks.Encasedwithinitwasacircularinnerboundary,madeofmetal.‘This yagna kund represents a type of mandal, a symbolic representation of spiritual reality,’

VishwamitraexplainedtoSita.‘ThesquareboundarysymbolisesPrithvi,theearththatweliveon.Thefoursidesofthesquarerepresentthefourdirections.ThespaceinsidethesquarerepresentsPrakrutiornature.Itisunculturedandwild.Thecirclewithinrepresentsthepathofconsciousness;oftheParmatma.ThetaskoftheVishnuistofindtheParmatmawithinthisearthlylife.TheVishnulightsapathtoGod.Notthroughdetachmentfromtheworld,butthroughprofoundandspiritualattachmenttothisgreatlandofours.’‘Yes,Guruji.’‘Youwillsitonthesouthernsideofthesquare.’Sita sat in the seat indicatedbyVishwamitra.TheChiefMalayaputra satwithhisback to thenorth,

facingSita.AMalayaputrapanditlitthefirewithinthecircularinnerboundaryoftheyagnaplatform.HewaschantingahymndedicatedtoLordAgni,theGodofFire.A yagna signifies a sacrificial exchange: you sacrifice something that you hold dear, and receive

benedictioninreturn.LordAgni,thepurifyingfire,iswitnesstothisexchangebetweenhumansandthedivine.VishwamitrafoldedhishandstogetherintoaNamaste.SodidSita.Hebeganchantingahymnfromthe

BrihadaranyakUpanishad.SitaandthesevenMalayaputrapanditsjoinedin.AsatomāsadgamayaTamasomājyotirgamayaMrityormāamritamgamayaOmshāntishāntishāntihLeadmefromuntruthtotruthLeadmefromdarknesstolightLeadmefromdeathtoimmortalityForMeandtheUniverse,lettherebepeace,peace,peaceVishwamitra reached into a pouch tied to his waist and withdrew a small scabbard. Holding it

reverentially in thepalmofhishand,hepulledouta tinysilverknife.Heranhis fingerover theedge,bringingittorestonthetipoftheblade.Sharp.Hecheckedthemarkingsonthehandle.Itwasthecorrectone.Hereachedover thefireandhandedtheknife toSita. Ithadtobepassedfromthenorthernto thesoutherndirection.‘Thisyagnawillbesealedinblood,’saidVishwamitra.‘Yes,Guruji,’saidSita,acceptingtheknifewithbothhandsasamarkofrespect.Vishwamitra reached intohispouchand retrievedanother small scabbard.Hepulledout the second

knife andchecked its blade. Perfectly sharp.He looked at Sita. ‘The bloodmust only dropwithin thecircularinnerboundaryoftheyagnakund.Undernocircumstancesmustitspillinthespacebetweenthemetalandbricks.Isthatclear?’‘Yes,Guruji.’Two Malayaputra pandits approached them silently and handed two pieces of cloth each to

Vishwamitra and Sita. Each had been doused in neem-juice disinfectants.Without waiting for furtherinstructions,Sitaplacedthesharpknife-edgeonherleftpalmandfoldedherhandovertheblade.Then,in

aswift,cleanmotion,shepulledtheknifeback,cuttingopentheskinfromedgetoedge.Blooddribbledfreelyintothesacredfire.Shedidnotflinch.‘Arrey, we needed just a drop of blood,’ exclaimed Vishwamitra. ‘A little nick would have been

enough.’Sita looked at Vishwamitra, unperturbed. She pressed the disinfectant cloth into her injured hand,

carefulnottospillanyblood.Vishwamitraquicklyprickedhisthumbwiththeknifeedge.Heheldhishandover the innerboundaryof theyagnakund,andpressedhis thumbto letadropof

bloodfallintotheflames.Sitaalsoheldoutherlefthandandremovedthecloth,lettingherblooddripintothefire.Vishwamitraspokeinaclearvoice.‘WiththepureLordAgniasmywitness,IswearthatIwillhonour

mypromisetoLordParshuRam.Always.Tomylastbreath.Andbeyond.’Sitarepeatedthewords.Exactly.‘JaiParshuRam,’saidVishwamitra.‘JaiParshuRam,’repeatedSita.TheMalayaputrapanditsaroundthemchimedin.‘JaiParshuRam.’Vishwamitra smiled andwithdrew his hand. Sita too pulled her hand back and covered it with the

disinfectant cloth. A Malayaputra pandit walked up to her and tied the cloth tight around her hand,staunchingthebloodflow.‘Itisdone,’saidVishwamitra,lookingatSita.‘AmIaMalayaputranow?’askedSitaexpectantly.Vishwamitralookedamused.HepointedtoSita’sknife.‘Lookatthemarkingsonyourknife.’Sitapickedupthesilverknife.Itsblade-edgewasstainedwithherblood.Sheexaminedthehandle.It

hadthreeintricatelettersengravedonit.Sagesofyore,intheirwisdom,hadsuggestedthatOldSanskritshouldnothaveawrittenscript.Theyfeltthatthewrittenwordwasinferiortothespoken;thatitreducedtheabilityof themind tounderstandconcepts.RishiShvetaketuhadhadanotherexplanation: thesagespreferredthatscriptureswerenotwrittendownandremainedoralsothatas timeschanged, theycouldchangeeasilyaswell.Writingthingsdownbroughtrigidityintothescriptures.Whateverthereason,thefactwasthatwritingwasnotvaluedintheSaptSindhu.Asaresult,thereweremanyscriptsthatexistedacrosstheland.Scriptsthatchangedfromtimetotimeandplacetoplace.Therewasnoseriousattempttodevelopastandardscript.ThewordonthehandlewaswritteninacommonscriptfromtheupperreachesoftheSaraswatiRiver.

Sitarecognisedit.ThesymbolsrepresentedParshuRam.

‘Notthatside,Sita,’saidVishwamitra.‘Turnitaround.’Sitaflippedtheknife.Hereyeswidenedwithshock.ThefishwasthemostcommonsymbolacrossallscriptsinIndia.AgiantfishhadhelpedLordManu

andhisbandescapewhentheseahaddevastatedtheir land.LordManuhaddecreedthat thegreatfishwouldbehonouredwiththetitleofLordMatsya,thefirstVishnu.ThesymbolofthefishrepresentedafolloweroftheVishnu.ThiswasthesymbolonVishwamitra’sknifehandle.

ButthesymbolonSita’shandlewasamodifiedversion.Itwasafish,nodoubt,butitalsohadacrownontop.

ThefishsymbolminusthecrownonitmeantthatyouwereafolloweroftheVishnu.Butifthefishsymbolhadacrownontop,itmeantthatyouweretheVishnu.SitalookedatVishwamitra,bewildered.‘Thisknifeisyours,Sita,’saidVishwamitrasoftly.

Chapter9

ThestudentquartersinShvetaketu’sgurukulwerefrugal.Inkeepingwiththegeneralatmosphereoftheplace.Eachstudentoccupiedasmallwindowlessmudhut,barelylargeenoughtoaccommodateasinglebed,someclothespegsandaplaceforstudymaterials.Thehutshadnodoors,justdoorways.Sitawaslyinginbed,recallingtheeventsofthepreviousdayontheMalayaputraship.Sheheld theknife inherhand.Shewas innodangerofgettingcutsince thebladewassafely in the

scabbard.Againandagain,hereyesweredrawntotheknifehandle.Andthebeautifulsymboletchedonitssurface.Vishnu?Me?Vishwamitra had said that her training would begin soon. She would be old enough to leave the

gurukulinafewmonths.ShewouldthentakeatriptoAgastyakootam,thecapitaloftheMalayaputras,deepinthesouthofIndia.Afterthat,shewouldtravelacrossIndia,incognito.Vishwamitrawantedhertounderstand the land that shewould redeem and lead one day.Alongwith hisMalayaputras, hewouldguideherthroughthis.Intheinterim,sheandVishwamitrawouldprepareablueprintforthetaskahead.Foranewwayoflife.Itwasallquiteoverwhelming.‘MyLady.’Sitaslippedoutofbedandcametothedoorway.Jatayuwasstandingatsomedistance.‘MyLady,’herepeated.SitafoldedherhandsintoaNamaste.‘Iamlikeyouryoungersister,Jatayuji.Pleasedon’tembarrass

me.Justcallmebymyname.’‘No,Ican’tdothat,MyLady.Youarethe…’Jatayufellsilent.StrictinstructionshadbeengiventotheMalayaputras.NobodywastospeakofSita

asthenextVishnu.Itwouldbeannouncedattherighttime.EvenSitahadbeenprohibitedfromspeakingaboutitwithanyone.Notthatshewouldhave, inanycase.Shefeltanxious,almostafraid,ofwhat thetitleimplied.‘Wellthen,youcancallmeyoursister.’Jatayusmiled.‘Thatisfair,mysister.’‘Whatdidyouwanttotalkabout,Jatayuji?’‘Howisyourhandnow?’Sitagrinnedasshetouchedtheneem-leafbandagewithherotherhand.‘Iwasalittletooenthusiastic

aboutdrawingblood.’‘Yes.’‘Iamallrightnow.’‘That is good to hear,’ said Jatayu. He was a shy man. Taking a slow, long breath in, he softly

continued, ‘You are one of the very few people, besides theMalayaputras,who have shown kindnesstowardsme.EventhoughLordVishwamitrahadnotorderedyoutodoso.’Allthosemonthsago,SitahadservedJatayusomefoodsimplybecausehisfaceremindedherofthe

noblevulturewhohadsavedherlife.Butshekeptthattoherself.

‘Youareprobablyunsureaboutthisnewsituation,’saidJatayu.‘It’snaturaltofeeloverwhelmed.’Whathedidn’ttellherwasthatevensomeMalayaputrashadtheirdoubtsaboutthechoiceofSitaasa

Vishnu,butwouldn’tdareopenlychallengetheirformidablechief.Sitanoddedsilently.‘ItmustbeevenmoredifficultbecauseyoucannottalktoanyoneotherthanaMalayaputraaboutthis.’‘Yes,’Sitasmiled.‘Ifyoueverneedanyadvice,orevensomeonetotalkto,youalwayshaveme.Itismydutytoprotect

youfromnowonwards.MyplatoonandIwillalwaysbenearby,’saidJatayu,gesturingbehindhim.Aroundfifteenmenstoodquietlyatadistance.‘Iwillnotembarrassyoubyrevealingmyselfinpublic,inMithilaoranywhereelse,’saidJatayu.‘I

understandthatIamaNaga.ButIwillneverbemorethanafewhours’rideaway.MypeopleandIwillalwaysbeyourshadowfromnowon.’‘Youcouldneverembarrassme,Jatayuji,’saidSita.‘Sita!’TheprincessofMithilalookedtoherleft.ItwasArishtanemi.‘Sita,’saidArishtanemi,‘Gurujiwouldliketohaveawordwithyou.’‘Excuseme,Jatayuji,’saidSita,asshefoldedherhandsintoapoliteNamaste.Jatayu returned her salutation and Sita walked away, trailing Arishtanemi. As she faded into the

distance, Jatayu bent down, picked up some dust fromher footprint, and touched it respectfully to hisforehead.HethenturnedinthedirectionthatSitahadwalked.Sheissuchagoodsoul…I hope Lady Sita does not become a pawn in the battle between Guru Vishwamitra and Guru

Vashishtha.

Twomonthshadpassed.TheMalayaputrashadleftfortheircapital,Agastyakootam.Asinstructed,SitaspentmostofherfreetimereadingtextsthatthechiefoftheMalayaputrashadgivenher.TheychronicledthelivesofsomeofthepreviousVishnus:LordNarsimha,LordVaaman,LordParshuRam,amongothers.Hewantedhertolearnfromtheirlives,theirchallenges;and,howtoovercomethemandestablishanewpaththatledtothePropagationofGood.Shetookupthistaskwithutmostseriousnessandconducteditinprivacy.Today,shesatbyatinypond

notfrequentedbyotherstudents.Itwasthereforewithirritationthatshereactedtothedisturbance.‘Bhoomi, you need to come to the main gurukul clearing right away,’ said Radhika, using Sita’s

gurukulname.‘Someonefromyourhomeishere.’Sitawavedherhandinannoyance.‘I’llbethere,soon.’‘Sita!’saidRadhikaloudly.Sitaturnedaround.Herfriendlookedandsoundedagitated.‘Yourmotherishere.Youneedtogo.Now.’

Sitawalkedslowly towards themaingurukulclearing.Herheartbeatinghard.Shesawtwoelephantstied close to the walkway, which led to the gurukul jetty. She knew her mother liked bringing herelephants along. On Sunaina’s visits, Sita and she would go on elephant rides deep into the jungle.Sunainalovedtoeducateherdaughteronanimalsintheirnaturalhabitat.SunainaknewmoreaboutanimalsthananyoneSitahadmet.ThetripsintothejunglewereamongSita’s

mostcherishedmemories.Fortheyinvolvedthetwomostimportantentitiesinherlife:MotherEarthandherownmother.Painshotthroughherheart.Becauseofher,Kushadhwajhad imposedsevererestrictionsonMithila trade.Heruncle’skingdom,

Sankashya,wasthemainconduitfortradewithherfather’skingdom;andthepricesofmostcommodities,evenessentials,hadshotthroughtheroof.MostMithilansblamedSitaforthis.EveryoneknewthatshehadbrokenKushadhwaj’sroyalseal.And,thatretaliationwasinevitable.Accordingtoancienttradition,theroyalsealwastherepresentationoftheking;breakingitwascomparabletoregicide.The blame had also seamlessly passed on to her mother, Sunaina. For everyone knew that it was

Sunaina’sdecisiontoadoptSita.Ihavegivenhernothingbuttrouble.Ihavedestroyedsomuchofwhatshespentherlifebuilding.Maashouldforgetme.Sitawasevenmoreconvincedofherdecisionbythetimeshereachedtheclearing.It was unusually crowded, even for a royal visit. Eight men were gathered around a heavy, empty

palanquin.Itwasapalanquinshehadn’tseenbefore:longerandbroader.Itappearedtobedesignedsothatthepersontravellinginitcouldliedown.Totheleft,shesaweightwomencrowdingaroundalowplatformbuiltaroundanAshoktree.Shelookedalloverforhermother,butdidnotseeheranywhere.Shemovedtowards thewomen,about toaskwherehermotherwas.Just then,afewof themmoved

aside,revealingQueenSunaina.ItknockedthewindoutofSita.Hermotherwasashadowofherformerself.Shehadbeenreducedtobareskinandbones.Herround,

moon-shapedfacehadturnedgaunt,withcheekssunkenin.Shehadalwaysbeenshortandpetite,buthadneverlookedunhealthy.Now,hermuscleshadwastedaway,andherbodywasstrippedofthelittlefatshehadoncehad.Hereyeslookedhollow.Herlustrous,richblackhairhadturnedsparseandaghostlywhite.Shecouldbarelyholdherselfup.Sheneededheraidestosupporther.AssoonasSunainasawherpreciousdaughter,herfacelitup.ItwasthesamewarmsmilewhereSita

hadalwaysfoundcomfortandsanctuary.‘Mychild,’saidSunaina,inabarelyaudiblevoice.ThequeenofMithilaheldoutherhands,herdeathlypallortemporarilyreducedbytheabundanceofa

mother’slove-filledheart.Sitastoodrootedtoherspot.Hopingtheearthwouldswallowher.‘Comehere,mychild,’saidSunaina.Herarms,tooweaktobeheldup,fellonhersides.Sunaina coughed.An aide rushed forward andwipedhermouthwith a handkerchief. Specks of red

appearedonthewhitecloth.Sitastumbledtowardshermother.Dazed.ShefelltoherkneesandrestedherheadonSunaina’slap.

Onethathadalwaysbeensoft,likeMotherEarthimmediatelyaftertherains.Itwasbonyandhardnow,likethesameearthafteraseriesofdevastatingdroughts.SunainaranherfingersthroughSita’shair.Sitatrembledinfearandsorrow,likealittlesparrowabouttoseethefallofthemightyBanyan tree

thathadshelterednotjustherbodybutalsohersoul.ContinuingtorunherhandthroughSita’shair,Sunainabentdown,kissedherheadandwhispered,‘My

child…’Sitaburstoutcrying.

TheMithilaphysician-in-attendancehadvehementlyopposedit.Eventhoughseverelyweakened,Sunaina

was still a formidable creature. She would not be denied the elephant ride into the jungle with herdaughter.Thephysicianhadplayedhisfinalcard.Hehadwhisperedintothequeen’sear,‘Thismaywellbeyour

lastelephantride,YourHighness.’AndSunainahadreplied,‘ThatispreciselywhyImustgo.’Thequeenhadrestedinthepalanquinwhilethetwoelephantswerepreparedfortheride.Onewould

carrythephysicianandafewattendants,whiletheotherwouldcarrySunainaandSita.Whenitwastime,Sunainawascarriedtothehowdahoftheseatedelephant.Amaidtriedtoclamber

aboard,nexttothequeen.‘No!’afirmSunainadecreed.‘But,MyLady…’pleadedthemaid,holdingupahandkerchiefandasmallbottle.Thefumesfromthe

dissolvedherbalmedicinehelpedboostherenergyforshortperiodsoftime.‘Mydaughteriswithme,’saidSunaina.‘Idon’tneedanyoneelse.’Sitaimmediatelytookthehandkerchiefandbottlefromthemaidandclimbedaboardthehowdah.Sunaina signalled themahout, who tenderly stroked the elephant behind its ears with his foot. The

elephantroseveryslowly,causingtheleastamountofdiscomforttoSunaina.‘Let’sgo,’sheordered.Thetwoelephantsambledoffintothejungle,accompaniedbyfiftyarmedMithilapolicemen,onfoot.

Chapter10

Thehowdahswayedlikeacradlewiththeanimal’sgentlewalk.Sitaheldhermother’shandandhuddledclose.Themahoutsteeredtheelephantsintheshade,underthetrees.Nonetheless,itwasdryandwarm.Sita,though,wasshivering.Withguilt.Andfear.Sunainaliftedherhandslightly.Sitainstinctivelyknewwhathermotherwanted.SheliftedSunaina’s

armhigher,andsnuggledinclose.Andwrappedhermother’sarmaroundhershoulder.SunainasmiledwithsatisfactionandkissedSitaonherforehead.‘Sorrythatyourfathercouldn’tcome,Sita,’saidSunaina.‘Hehadtostaybackforsomework.’Sitaknewhermotherwaslying.Shedidnotwishtocauseherdaughterfurtherpain.Perhaps,itwasjustaswell.Sitahad,inafitofanger,toldJanakthelasttimeshehadbeeninMithilathatheshouldstopwasting

his time on spirituality and help Sunaina govern the kingdom. That it was his duty. Her outburst hadangeredSunainamorethanherfather.Also,littleUrmila,Sita’sfour-year-oldyoungersister,wasasicklychild.Janakhadprobablystayed

behindwithher,whiletheirmothertravelledtoShvetaketu’sgurukul.Indebilitatingillness.Tomeethertroubledelderdaughter.And,tomakehercomebackhome.Sitaclosedhereyes,asanotherguiltytearrolleddownhercheek.Sunaina coughed. Sita immediatelywiped hermother’smouthwith the cloth. She looked at the red

stains—signsthathermother’slifewasslowlyslippingaway.Tearsbegantoflowinarush.‘Everyonehastodiesomeday,mydarling,’saidSunaina.Sitacontinuedcrying.‘Butthefortunateonesdiewiththeirlovedonesaroundthem.’

Thetwoelephantswerestationary,expertlystilledbytheirmahouts.ThefiftyMithilanguards,too,wereimmobile,andsilent.Theslightestsoundcouldprovedangerous.Ten minutes back, Sunaina had spotted a scene rarely witnessed by human eyes: The death of the

matriarchofalargeelephantherd.Sita remembered hermother’s lessons on elephant herds.They tended to bematriarchal, led by the

eldest female. Most herds comprised adult females with calves, both male and female, nurtured ascommonchildren.Maleelephantswerenormallyexiledfromtheherdwhentheycameofage.Thematriarchwasmorethantheleaderoftheherd.Shewasamothertoall.The death of thematriarch, therefore, would be a devastating event for the herd. Or so onewould

imagine.‘Ithinkit’sthesameherdthatwesawafewyearsago,’whisperedSunaina.Sitanodded.Theywatchedfromasafedistance,hiddenbythetrees.The elephants stood in a circle around the corpse of thematriarch. Solemn.Motionless.Quiet. The

gentleafternoonbreezestruggledtoprovidereliefasthesunshoneharshlyontheassembly.Twocalvesstoodwithinthecircle,nearthebody.Onewastiny,theotherslightlyolder.‘Wesawthatlittleonebeingborn,Sita,’saidSunaina.Sitanoddedintheaffirmative.She remembered the birth of thematriarch’s child.Hermother and she hadwitnessed it on another

elephantrideafewyearsago.Today,thatbabyelephant,amalecalf,wasdownonhiskneesnexttohisdeadmother.Histrunkwas

entwinedwith hers, his body shaking. Every fewminutes, hewould pull on the trunk of hismother’scorpse,asthoughtryingtowakeherup.Theoldercalf,hissister,stoodnexttothebaby.Calm.Still.Liketheothermembersoftheherd.‘Watchnow…’whisperedSunaina.Anadultfemale,perhapsthenewmatriarch,slowlyambleduptothecorpse.Shestretchedhertrunk

and touched the forehead of the dead body with utmost respect. Then she walked around the corpsesolemnly,turnedandsimplywalkedaway.Theotherelephantsinthecirclefollowedherlead,onebyone.Doingtheexactsamething—touching

the forehead of the dead former matriarch with their trunks, performing a circumambulation and thenwalkingaway.Withdignity.Withrespect.Noneofthemlookedback.Notonce.Notonce.Thelittlemalecalf,however,refusedtoleave.Heclungtohismother.Desperately.Hepulledather

withhelplessferocity.Hissisterstoodquietlybyhisside.Therestoftheherdcametoahaltatadistance,notonceturningaround.Patiently,theywaited.Aftersometime,thesistertouchedherlittlebrotherwithhertrunk.Themalecalfpusheditaway.Withrenewedenergy,hestoodonhisfeetandwrappedhistrunkaround

hismother’s.Andpulledhard.Heslipped.Hegotupagain.Heldhismother’strunkandpulled.Harder.Hecastabeseechinglookathissister,beggingforherhelp.Withagut-wrenchingcry,heturnedbacktohismother,willinghertogetup.Buthismotherhadsuccumbedtothelongsleepnow.Shewouldwakeuponlyinhernextlife.Thechildrefusedtogiveup.Shiftingfromsidetoside,hepulledhismother’strunk.Repeatedly.Thesisterfinallywalkeduptohermother’scorpse,andtouchedtheforeheadwithhertrunk,justlike

theothershad.Shethenwalkedaroundthebodyofhermother.Shecameuptoherbrother,heldhistrunkandtriedtopullhimaway.The male calf began to screech heartbreakingly. He followed his sister. But he kept looking back.

Again.Andagain.Heofferednoresistance,however,tohissister.The sister, like everyother elephant in theherd,walked steadily ahead.Shedidnot lookback.Not

once.Notonce.Sitalookedupathermother,tearsflowingdownhercheeks.‘Societymoveson,mychild,’whisperedSunaina.‘Countriesmoveon.Lifemoveson.Asitshould.’Sitacouldn’tspeak.Shecouldnotlookathermother.SheheldSunainaclose,buryingherheadinher

mother’sbosom.‘Clingingtopainfulmemoriesispointless,Sita,’saidSunaina.‘Youmustmoveon.Youmustlive…’Sitalistened.Butthetearsdidnotstop.‘There’snoescape fromproblemsandchallenges.They’reapartof life.AvoidingMithiladoesnot

meanthatyourtroubleswilldisappear.Itonlymeansthatotherchallengeswillappear.’Sitatightenedhergriponhermother.‘Running away is never the solution.Confront your problems.Manage them.That is theway of the

warrior.’SunainaliftedSita’schinandlookedintohereyes.‘And,youareawarrior.Don’teverforget

that.’Sitanodded.‘Youknowyoursisterwasbornweak.Urmilaisnowarrior.Youmusttakecareofher,Sita.And,you

mustlookafterMithila.’Sitamadeapromisetoherselfwithintheconfinesofhermind.Yes.Iwill.Sunaina caressed Sita’s face and smiled. ‘Your father has always loved you. So does your younger

sister.Rememberthat.’Iknow.‘Asforme,Idon’tjustloveyou,Sita.Ialsohavegreatexpectationsfromyou.Yourkarmawillensure

ourfamily’snamesurvivesformanymillennia.Youwillgodowninhistory.’Sitautteredherfirstwordssinceshehadseenhermotheratthegurukul.‘Iamsosorry,Maa.I’mso

sorry.I…’SunainasmiledandheldSitatight.‘Sorry…’sobbedSita.‘Ihavefaithinyou.Youwilllivealifethatwillmakemeproud.’‘ButIcan’tlivewithoutyou,Maa.’SunainapulledbackandheldSita’sfaceup.‘Youcanandyouwill.’‘No…Iwillnotlivewithoutyou…’Sunaina’sexpressionbecamefirm.‘Listentome,Sita.Youwillnotwasteyourlifemourningme.You

willlivewiselyandmakemeproud.’Sitacontinuedcrying.‘Don’tlookback.Looktothefuture.Buildyourfuture,don’tgrieveforyourpast.’Sitadidnothavethestrengthtospeak.‘Promiseme.’Sitastaredathermother,hereyesbrimmingwithmisery.‘Promiseme.’‘Ipromise,Maa.Ipromise.’

Ithadbeen fourweeks sinceSunaina’svisit toShvetaketu’sgurukul. Sita had returnedhomewithhermother.SunainahadmanoeuvredforSitatobeappointedprimeministerofMithila,withalltheexecutivepowersnecessarytoadministerthekingdom.SitanowspentmostofhertimewithSunaina,lookingafterhermother’sfailinghealth.Sunainaguided

Sita’smeetingswiththeministersofthekingdominherprivatechambers,byherbedside.Sita was aware that Sunaina was greatly concerned about her relationship with her younger sister.

Thus, shemadea concertedeffort tobondwithUrmila.ThequeenofMithilawantedherdaughters tobuildastrongrelationship thatwould tide themover thedifficultyearsahead.Shehadspoken to themabouttheneedforthemtostandbyeachother.Andtheloveandloyaltytheymustshare.One evening, after a longmeeting in Sunaina’s chambers, Sita enteredUrmila’s room, next to their

mother’s. She had asked an aide to arrange a plate of black grapes. Urmila loved black grapes.Dismissingtheaide,shecarriedtheplateintothechamber.Theroomwasdimlylit.Thesunhadsetbutonlyafewlampswereaglow.‘Urmila!’Shewasnotinbed.Sitabeganlookingforhersister.Shesteppedintothelargebalconyoverlooking

thepalacegarden.Whereisshe?

Shecamebackintotheroom.Irritatedwiththeminimallight,shewasabouttoorderforsomemorelampstobelit,whenshenoticedashakingfigurebundledinacorner.‘Urmila?’Sitawalkedover.Urmilasatinthecorner,herkneespulledagainstherchest.Herheaddownonherknees.SitaimmediatelysettheplateasideandsatdownonthefloornexttoUrmila.Sheputherarmaround

herbabysister.‘Urmila…’shesaid,gently.Urmilalookedupathereldersister.Hertear-streakedfacewaslinedwithmisery.‘Didi…’‘Talktome,mychild,’saidSita.‘Is…’SitasqueezedUrmila’sshouldersgently.‘Yes…’‘Ismaaleavingusandgoingtoheaven?’Sitaswallowedhard.Shewishedmaawashere toanswerUrmila’squestions.Almost immediately,

sherealisedthatSunainawouldsoonnotbehereatall.Urmilawasherresponsibility.Shehadtobetheonetoanswerher.‘No,Urmila.Maawillalwaysbehere.’Urmilalookedup.Confused.Hopeful.‘Buteveryoneistellingmethatmaaisgoingaway.ThatIhave

tolearnto…’‘Everyonedoesn’t knowwhat you and I know,Urmila.Maawill just live in a different place. She

won’tliveinherbodyanymore.’SitapointedtoUrmila’sheartandthenherown.‘Maawillliveinthesetwo places. She will always be there in our hearts. And, whenever we are together, she will becomplete.’Urmila lookeddownatherchest, feelingherheartpickuppace.Thenshe lookedatSita. ‘Shewill

neverleaveus?’‘Urmila,closeyoureyes.’Urmiladidashersisterordered.‘Whatdoyousee?’Shesmiled.‘Iseemaa.Sheisholdingme.Sheiscaressingmyface.’SitaranherfingersdownUrmila’sface.Sheopenedhereyes,smilingevenmorebroadly.‘Shewillalwaysbewithus.’UrmilaheldSitatightly.‘Didi…’‘Thebothofus,together,arenowourmother.’

‘Myjourneyinthislifeisdrawingtoanend,’saidSunaina.SitaandSunainawerealoneinthequeen’schambers.Sunainalayinbed.Sitasatbesideher,holding

herhand.‘Maa…’‘I’mawareofwhatpeopleinMithilasayaboutme.’‘Maa,don’tbotheraboutwhatsomeidiots…’‘Letmespeak,mychild,’saidSunaina,pressingSita’shand.‘Iknowtheythinkmyachievementsofthe

pasthaveevaporatedinthelastfewyears.EversinceKushadhwajbegantosqueezeourkingdomdry.’Sitafeltthefamiliarguiltriseinherstomach.‘Itisnotyourfault,’saidSunaina,emphatically.‘Kushadhwajwouldhaveusedanyexcusetohurtus.

HewantstotakeoverMithila.’‘Whatdoyouwantmetodo,Maa?’Sunainaknewherdaughter’saggressivenature.‘NothingtoKushadhwaj…Heisyourfather’sbrother.

ButIwantyoutoredeemmyname.’Sitakeptquiet.‘Itissaidthatwecomewithnothingintothisworld,andtakenothingback.Butthat’snottrue.Wecarry

ourkarmawithus.Andweleavebehindourreputation,ourname.Iwantmynameredeemed,Sita.AndIwantyoutodoit.IwantyoutobringbackprosperitytoMithila.’‘Iwill,Maa.’Sunainasmiled.‘And,onceyouhavedonethat…youhavemypermissiontoleaveMithila.’‘Maa?’‘Mithila is toosmallaplaceforonesuchasyou,Sita.Youaremeantforgreater things.Youneeda

biggerstage.Perhaps,astageasbigasIndia.Or,maybehistoryitself…’SitaconsideredtellingSunainaabouttheMalayaputrashavingrecognisedherasthenextVishnu.Ittookheronlyafewmomentstodecide.

TheheadpanditwalkeduptoSita,holdingatorchinhisrighthand.Otherpanditswerelinedupattheback,chantinghymnsfromtheGarudaPurana.‘It’stime,MyLady.’Sitanoddedathimandlookeddowntoherleft.UrmilahadnotstoppedcryingsinceSunaina’sdeath.

SheheldontoSita’sarmwithbothherhands.Sitatriedtoprythemopen,buthersisterclungon,evenstronger.Sita lookedather father,whowalkedup,pickedUrmilaup inhisarmsandstoodbesidehiselderdaughter.JanaklookedasdevastatedandlostastheyoungUrmila.Hehadlostthehumanshieldthathadguardedhim,ashehadsoaredtheheightsofphilosophicalwisdom.Realityhadintrudedrudelyintohislife.Sitaturnedtothepanditandtookthetorch.IthadonlybeenthreemonthssinceSunaina’svisittothegurukul.Sitahadthoughtshe’dhavemoretimewithSunaina.Tolearn.Tolive.Tolove.Butthatwasnottobe.ShemovedforwardassheheardthepanditschantfromtheIshaVasyaUpanishad.Vayuranilamamritam;AthedambhasmantamshariramLetthistemporarybodybeburnedtoashes.Butthebreathoflifebelongselsewhere.Mayitfindits

waybacktotheImmortalBreath.Shewalkedup to thesandalwoodlogs thatentombedhermother’sbody.Sheclosedhereyesasshe

pictured hermother’s face. Shemust not cry. Not here. Not in public. She knew thatmanyMithilanssecretlyblamedherforfurtherweakeninghermotherinherillness,bymakinghertraveltoShvetaketu’sgurukul.ShealsoknewthattheyblamedherforthetroublescausedbyKushadhwaj.Shemustbestrong.Forhermother.Shelookedtoherfriend,Samichi,whostoodatadistance.Nextto

herstoodRadhika,herfriendfromthegurukul.Shedrewstrengthfromtheirsupport.Shestucktheburninglogintothepyre.Washedwithghee,thewoodcaughtfireimmediately.Thepyre

burnedbrightandstrong,asifhonouredtobethepurifyingagentforonesonoble.Farewell,Maa.Sitasteppedbackandlookedatthesky,totheOneGod,Brahman.Ifanyoneeverdeservedmoksha,itisher,mymother.Sitarememberedhermother’swordsastheyhadwitnessedthemourningoftheelephantmatriarch.Don’tlookback.Looktothefuture.

Sitawhisperedsoftlytothecremationpyre.‘Iwilllookback,Maa.HowcanInot?Youaremylife.’Sherememberedherlastcoherentconversationwithhermother.SunainahadwarnedSitatonottrust

eithertheMalayaputrasortheVayuputrascompletelyifsheweretofulfilherdestinyastheVishnu.Bothtribeswouldhavetheirownagenda.Sheneededpartners.Hermother’svoiceresonatedinhermind.Findpartnersyoucantrust;whoareloyaltoyourcause.

Personalloyaltyisnotimportant.Buttheymustbeloyaltoyourcause.Sherememberedhermother’slaststatement.Iwillalwaysbelookingatyou.Makemeproud.Sitatookadeepbreathandclenchedherfists,makingavow.‘Iwill,Maa.Iwill.’

Chapter11

SitaandSamichisatontheedgeoftheouterfortwall.Sitamovedforwardandlookeddownatthemoatthatsurroundedthecity.Itwasalongwaydown.Notforthefirsttime,shewonderedwhatitwouldbelike to fall, all theway to the ground.Would it hurt?Would she be released fromher body instantly?Wouldshefinallybefree?Whathappensafterdeath?Whydothesestupidthoughtsentermymind?‘Sita…’whisperedSamichi,breakingthesilence.Theyhadbeen seated together for some time.Therewerehardly anywords exchangedbetween the

two,asadistractedSitakeptlookingbeyondthewall.SamichicouldunderstandSita’spain.Afterall,ithadjustbeenadaysincetheprincesshadcrematedhermother’sdeadbody.Despiteherrecentlyreducedpopularity,almosttheentirekingdomwasinmourningfortheirQueenSunaina.NotjustSita,butallofMithilahadlostitsmother.Sitadidnotrespond.‘Sita…’Instinctkickedin.SamichireachedherarmoutandhelditinfrontofSita.Attemptingtopreventsome

unspokenfearfromcomingtrue.Samichiunderstood,onlytoowell,thepowerofdarkthoughts.Sitashookherhead.Pushingtheunnecessarythoughtsoutofherhead.Samichiwhisperedagain,‘Sita…’Sitaspokedistractedly.Toherself.‘Maa,asalways,wasright…Ineedpartners…Iwillcomplete

mykarma…ButIcan’tdoitalone.Ineedapartner…’Samichiheldherbreath,thinkingthatSitahadplansforher.ThinkingthatSitawastalkingaboutwhat

SunainahadwantedforMithila.And,thekarmathedyingqueenhadaskedofher.ButSitawas,infact,dwellingonwhatthechiefoftheMalayaputrashadtaskedherwith.Sita touchedthescaronher leftpalm,recalling thebloodoathshehadmadewithVishwamitra.She

whisperedtoherself,‘IswearbythegreatLordRudraandbythegreatLordParshuRam.’SamichididnotnoticethatSitahad,forthefirsttime,takenanoathinthenameofLordParshuRamas

well. Usually, the princess only invoked Lord Rudra’s name. But how could she have registered thechange?Herthoughts,too,haddrifted;toherTrueLord,theIraiva.DoesSitaintendtomakemehersecond-in-commandinMithila?Iraivabepraised…Iraivawillbe

happy…

A year had passed since the death of Sunaina. The sixteen-year-old Sita had been administering thekingdomreasonablywell.ShehadconsolidatedherrulebyretainingtheteamthathadadvisedSunaina,careful tocontinuesystems thathermotherhad instituted.Theonlymajorchangeshehadmadewas toappointhertrustedaide,Samichi,astheChiefofPolice.Anappointmentnecessitatedbythesuddendeathofthepreviouspolicechief,whohadhadanunexpectedandfatalheartattack.Jatayu,theMalayaputracaptain,hadbeentruetohisword,andshadowedSitaalongwithhisteamof

soldiers. They had been tasked with being her bodyguards. Sita did not feel the need for this extra

protection.Butwhocanshakeoffashadow?Infact,shehadhadtogiveintoJatayu’srequestandinductsomeMalayaputrasoldiers intotheMithilapoliceforce.Their trueidentitywaskeptasecretfromall,includingSamichi.TheyfollowedSita.Always.Over the last year, Sita had grown to trust Jatayu. Almost like a brother. He was the senior most

Malayaputraofficer that she interactedwithona regularbasis.And, theonlyperson shecouldopenlydiscussherVishnuresponsibilitieswith.‘I’msureyouunderstand,don’tyou,Jatayuji?’askedSita.SitaandJatayuhadrendezvousedanhour’srideawayfromMithila,nearanabandonedbangle-making

factory.HerMalayaputrabodyguardshadaccompaniedher,disguisedasMithilapolicemen.JatayuhadjusttoldherthatVishwamitraexpectedhertocometoAgastyakootam,thecapitaloftheMalayaputras,ahiddencitydeepinthesouthofIndia.ShewastobetrainedthereforsomemonthstoprepareherforherroleastheVishnu.Afterthat,forthenextfewyears,shewouldremaininherhometown,Mithila,forhalfthe year and spend the other half travelling around theSapt Sindhu, understanding the land she had tosave.However,SitahadjusttoldJatayuthatshewasnotreadytoleaveMithilayet.Therewasalotlefttobe

done. Mithila had to be stabilised and made secure; not the least of all, from the threat posed byKushadhwaj.‘Yes,mysister,’saidJatayu.‘Iunderstand.YouneedafewmoreyearsinMithila.Iwillconveythisto

Guruji. I amsurehe, too,will understand. In fact, evenyourworkhere is training, in away, foryourmission.’‘Thankyou,’saidSita.Sheaskedhimsomethingshehadbeenmeaningtoforsometime.‘Bytheway,I

haveheardthatAgastyakootamisclosetoRaavan’sLanka.Isthattrue?’‘Yes, it is.Butdonotworry,youwillbesafe there. It’sahiddencity.And,Raavanwouldnotdare

attackAgastyakootamevenifheknewwhereitwas.’SitawasnotworriedaboutAgastyakootam’ssecurity.Itwassomethingelsethattroubledher.Butshe

decidednottoseekfurtherclarification.Atleastfornow.‘Haveyoudecidedwhattodowiththemoney?’askedJatayu.TheMalayaputrashaddonatedagrandsumofonehundredthousandgoldcoinstoMithila,tohelpSita

speedily establish her authority in the kingdom. Itwas a relatively small amount for the tribe; but forMithila,ithadbeenawindfall.TheMalayaputrashadofficiallycalleditanendowmenttoacitythathaddedicateditselftoknowledgeandwasthebelovedoftherishis.Noonewassurprisedbythisunprecedentedgenerosity.Whywouldn’tgreatrishisnurturethesaintly

kingJanak’scityofknowledge?Infact,MithilanshadgottenusedtoseeingmanyoftheMalayaputras,andeventhegreatmaharishi,Vishwamitra,visittheircityoften.Thereweretwopotentialprojectsthatneededinvestment.OnewastheroadthatconnectedMithilato

Sankashya.Theotherwascheap,permanentandliveablehousingfortheslumdwellers.‘Theroadwillrevivetradetoagreatextent,’saidJatayu.‘Whichwillbringinmorewealthtothecity.

Abigplus.’‘Yes,butthatwealthwilllargelygotoasmallnumberofalreadyrichpeople.Someofthemmayeven

leave,takingtheirwealthalongwiththemtomoretrade-friendlycities.Theroadwillnotridusofourdependency on the Sankashya port.Norwill it stymiemy uncle’s ability to freeze supplies toMithilawheneverhefeelslike.Wemustbecomeindependentandself-reliant.’‘True.Theslumredevelopmentproject,ontheotherhand,willprovidepermanenthomestothepoor.It

willalsoremoveaneyesoreatoneofthemaincitygates,makingitaccessibletotraffic.’‘Hmm.’‘And,youwillearn the loyaltyof thepoor.Theyare thevastmajority inMithila.Their loyaltywill

proveuseful,mysister.’

Sitasmiled.‘Iamnotsureifthepoorarealwaysloyal.Thosewhoarecapableofloyaltywillbeloyal.Thosewhoarenotwillnot,nomatterwhatImaydoforthem.Bethatasitmay,wemusthelpthepoor.Andwecangeneratesomanyjobswiththisproject,makingmanymorepeopleproductivelocally.Thatisagoodthing.’‘True.’‘Ihaveotherideasrelatedtothisproject,whichwouldincreaseourself-reliance.Atleastwithregard

tofoodandotheressentials.’‘Ihaveafeelingthatyou’vemadeupyourmindalready!’‘Ihave.Butitisgoodtolistentootherwiseopinionsbeforetakingthefinaldecision.Thisisexactly

whatmymotherwouldhavedone.’‘Shewasaremarkablewoman.’‘Yes,shewas,’smiledSita.Shehesitatedamoment,tookonemorelookatJatayu,andthenbroached

anothersensitivetopic.‘Jatayuji,doyoumindifIaskyouaquestion?’‘Anytimeyouwishto,greatVishnu,’saidJatayu.‘HowcanInotanswer?’‘WhatistheproblembetweenMaharishiVishwamitraandMaharishiVashishtha?’Jatayusmiledruefully.‘Youhavearareabilitytodiscoverthingsthatyouarenotsupposedto.Things

thataremeanttobeasecret.’Sitasmiledwithdisarmingcandour.‘Thatisnotananswertomyquestion,Jatayuji.’‘No,it’snot,mysister,’laughedJatayu.‘Tobehonest,Idon’tknowmuchaboutit.ButIdoknowthis:

they hate each other viscerally. It is unwise to evenmention the name ofMaharishiVashishtha in thepresenceofMaharishiVishwamitra.’

‘Goodprogress,’whisperedSita.Shewasstanding in thegardenof theLordRudra temple inMithila,lookingattheongoingworkofrebuildingthecityslums.Afewmonthsago,SitahadorderedthattheslumsatthesoutherngateofMithilabedemolishedand

new,permanenthousesbebuiltforthepooronthesameland.Thesehouses,builtwiththemoneygivenbytheMalayaputras,wouldbegiventothepoorfreeofcost.Samichipreenedatthecomplimentfromherprimeminister.Inanunorthodoxmove,Sitahadassigned

her,ratherthanthecityengineer,withthetaskofimplementingtheprojectrapidlyandwithinbudget.Sitaknew that her Police Chief was obsessively detail-oriented, with an ability to push her subordinatesruthlessly to get the job done.Also, having spent her early years in the slums, Samichiwas uniquelyqualifiedtounderstandtheproblemsfacedbythepeoplelivingthere.Though the execution had been entrusted to Samichi, Sita had involved herself in the planning and

designoftheprojectafterconsultingtherepresentativesoftheslumdwellers.Shehadeventuallyworkedout an innovative solution for not only their housing needs, but also providing them with sustainablelivelihood.Theslumdwellershadbeenunwillingtovacatetheirlandforevenafewmonths.Theyhadlittlefaith

intheadministration.Forone,theybelievedtheprojectwouldbeunderconstructionforyears,renderingthemhomeless for a long time.Also,manywere superstitious andwanted their rebuilt homes to standexactlywheretheoldoneshadbeen.This,however,wouldleavenoexcessspaceforneatlylinedstreets.Theoriginalslumhadnostreetstobeginwith,justsmall,haphazardpathways.Sitahadconceivedabrilliant solution:buildingahoneycomb-likestructure,withhouses that shared

walls on all sides. Residents would enter from the top, with steps descending into their homes. The‘ceilings’ofallthehomeswould,fromtheoutside,beasingle,joint,levelplatform;anew‘groundlevel’aboveall thehouses; anartificialground thatwas four floorsabove theactualground. Itwouldbean

open-to-sky space for the slumdwellers,with a grid of ‘streets’marked in paint. The ‘streets’wouldcontainhatchdoors servingasentries to theirhomes.Thiswouldaddress their superstitions;eachonewouldgetahouseexactlyatthesamelocationastheiroriginalhovel.And,sincethehoneycombstructurewouldextendfourfloorsbelow,eachinhabitantwould,ineffect,havefourrooms.Asubstantiallybiggerhomethanearlier.Becauseofitshoneycomb-likestructure,SamichihadinformallynamedthecomplexBeesQuarter.Sita

hadlikeditsomuchthatithadbecometheofficialname!Therewasstilltheproblemoftemporaryaccommodationfortheslumdwellers,whiletheirnewhomes

were being constructed. Sita had had another innovative idea. She converted themoat outside the fortwall intoa lake, tostorerainwaterandtoaidagriculture.Theuninhabitedareabetweentheouterfortwallandtheinnerfortwallwaspartlyhandedovertotheslumdwellers.Theybuilttemporaryhousesforthemselves therewithbambooandcloth.Theyused the remaining land togrowfoodcrops,cottonandmedicinalherbs.ThisnewlyallottedlandwouldremainintheirpossessionevenaftertheymovedbackintotheBeesQuarter,whichwouldbereadyinafewmonths.Thishadmultiplebenefits.Firstly,thelandbetweentheouterfortwallandtheinnerfortwall,which

hadbeenleftunoccupiedasasecuritymeasure,wasputtogooduse.Agriculturalproductivityimproved.Thisprovidedadditional incomefor theslumdwellers.Movingagriculturewithin thecitywallwouldalso provide food security during times of siege; unlikely though it seemed that impoverishedMithilawouldeverbeattacked.Mostimportantly,Mithilansbecameself-reliantintermsoffood,medicinesandotheressentials.This

reducedtheirdependenceontheSankashyariverport.SamichihadwarnedSitathatthismighttemptKushadhwajtomilitarilyattackthem.ButSitadoubtedit.

Itwouldbepoliticallydifficult forheruncle to justifyhisarmyattacking thesaintlykingofMithila. ItwouldprobablystokerebellionevenamongthecitizensofSankashya.Notwithstandingthis,itwaswisetobepreparedforeventhemostunlikelyevent.Sitahadalwaysbeenuneasyabout theoutermoatbeing thecity’smainwatersupply. In theunlikely

eventofasiege,anenemycouldpoisonthewateroutsideandcausehavoc.Shedecreedthatadeeplakebeconstructedwithinthecityasaprecaution.Inadditiontothis,shealsostrengthenedthetwoprotectivewallsofMithila.She organised the chaotic central market of the city. Permanent, uniform stalls were given to the

vendors,ensuringcleanlinessandorderliness.Sales increased,alongwitha reduction inpilferageandwastage.Thisledtoavirtuouscycleofdecreaseinprices,furtherenhancingbusiness.AllthesemovesalsodramaticallyincreasedSita’spopularity.Atleast,amongthepoor.Theirliveshad

improvedconsiderably,andtheyoungprincesswasresponsible.

‘I must admit, I am surprised,’ said Jatayu. ‘I didn’t expect a police chief to efficiently oversee theconstructionofyourBeesQuartersosmoothly.’SitasatwithJatayuoutsidethecitylimits.Thedayhadenteredthethirdprahar.Thesunstill shone

highinthesky.Shesmiled.‘Samichiistalented.Nodoubt.’‘Yes.But…’Sitalookedathimandfrowned.‘Butwhat,Jatayuji?’‘Pleasedon’tmisunderstandme,greatVishnu.Itisyourkingdom.Youaretheprimeminister.And,we

Malayaputrasconcernourselveswiththewholecountry,notjustMithila…’‘Whatisit,Jatayuji?’interruptedSita.‘YouknowItrustyoucompletely.Pleasespeakopenly.’

‘Mypeopleinyourpoliceforcetalktotheotherofficers.It’saboutSamichi.Abouther…’Sitasighed.‘Iknow…It’sobviousthatshehasaproblemwithmen…’‘It’smorelikehatredformen,ratherthanjustaproblem.’‘Therehastobeareasonforit.Somemanmusthave…’‘Buthatingallmenbecauseofoneman’sactions,whatevertheymayhavebeen,isasignofanunstable

personality.Reverse-biasisalsobias.Reverse-racismisalsoracism.Reverse-sexismisalsosexism.’‘Iagree.’‘Ifshekeptherfeelingstoherselfthatwouldbefine.Butherprejudiceisimpactingherwork.Menare

beingtargetedunfairly.Youdon’twanttotriggerarebellion.’‘Shedoesnotallowme tohelpher in thepersonalspace.But Iwillensure thatherhatreddoesnot

impactherwork.I’lldosomething.’‘Iamonlyconcernedaboutyourlargerinterest,greatVishnu.Thereisnodoubtinmymindthatsheis

personallyveryloyaltoyou.’‘IguessithelpsthatIamnotaman!’Jatayuburstoutlaughing.

‘Howareyou,Naarad?’askedHanuman.HanumanhadjustreturnedfromatriptoPariha.HehadsailedintotheportofLothalinGujarat,onhis

wayeastward,deeperintotheheartofIndia.HehadbeenmetattheportbyhisfriendNaarad,abrillianttrader in Lothal who was also a lover of art, poetry and the latest gossip! Naarad had immediatelyescortedhisfriend,alongwithhiscompanions,totheofficebehindhisshop.‘I’mallright,’saidNaaradheartily.‘Anybetterwouldbeasin.’Hanumansmiled.‘Idon’tthinkyoutrytoohardtostayawayfromsin,Naarad!’Naaradlaughedandchangedthetopic.‘Theusualsupplies,myfriend?Foryouandyourband?’AsmallplatoonofParihansaccompaniedHanumanonhistravels.‘Yes,thankyou.’Naaradnoddedandwhisperedsomeinstructionstohisaide.‘And,Ithankyoufurther,’continuedHanuman,‘fornotaskingwhereIamgoing.’Thestatementwastooobviousabait,especiallyforNaarad.Heswallowedithook,line,andsinker.‘WhywouldIaskyou?IalreadyknowyouaregoingtomeetGuruVashishtha!’VashishthawastheroyalguruofthekingdomofAyodhya.Itwaswellknownthathehadtakenthefour

princesofAyodhya—Ram,Bharat,LakshmanandShatrughan—tohisgurukultotrainandeducatethem.Thelocationofthegurukul,however,wasawell-keptsecret.HanumanstaredatNaarad,notsayinganything.‘Don’tworry,myfriend,’saidNaarad,smiling.‘Almostnobody,besidesmeofcourse,knowswhoyou

aregoingtomeet.Andnobody,notevenme,knowswherethegurukulis.’Hanumansmiled.Hewasabouttoretortwhenaloudfemininevoicewasheard.‘Hans!’Hanuman closed his eyes for a moment, winced and turned around. It was Sursa, an employee of

Naaradwhowasobsessedwithhim.Hanuman foldedhishands together intoaNamasteandspokewith extremepoliteness, ‘Madam,my

nameisHanuman,notHans.’‘Iknowthat,’saidSursa,sashayingtowardsHanuman.‘ButIthinkHanssoundssomuchbetter.Also,

don’tyouthinkSurisbetterthanmadam?’Naarad giggledwithmirth as Sursa came uncomfortably close toHanuman.TheNaga glared at his

friendbeforetakingafewstepsbackanddistancinghimselffromhisadmirer.‘Madam,IwasengagedinanimportantconversationwithNaaradand…’Sursacuthimshort.‘And,I’vedecidedtointerrupt.Dealwithit.’‘Madam…’Sursaarchedhereyebrowsandswayedherhipseductivelytotheside.‘Hans,don’tyouunderstandthe

wayIfeelaboutyou?ThethingsIcandoforyou…And,toyou…’‘Madam,’ interruptedHanuman, blushing beet-red, and stepping back farther. ‘I have told youmany

times. Iamsworn tocelibacy.This is inappropriate. Iamnot trying to insultyou.Pleaseunderstand. Icannot…’Naaradwas leaning against thewall now, covering hismouth, shoulders shaking, laughing silently.

Tryinghardnottomakeasound.‘Nobodyneedstoknow,Hans.Youcankeepuptheappearanceofyourvow.Youdon’thavetomarry

me.Ionlywantyou.Notyourname.’SursasteppedforwardandreachedoutforHanuman’shand.Withsurprisingagilityforamanhissize,Hanumansidesteppedquickly,deftlyavoidingSursa’stouch.

Heraisedhisvoiceinalarm,‘Madam!Please!Ibegyou!Stop!’Sursapoutedandtracedhertorsowithherfingers.‘AmInotattractiveenough?’HanumanturnedtowardsNaarad.‘InLordIndra’sname,Naarad.Dosomething!’Naaradwasbarelyabletocontrolhislaughter.HesteppedinfrontofHanumanandfacedthewoman.

‘ListenSursa,enoughisenough.Youknowthat…’Sursaflaredup.Suddenlyaggressive.‘Idon’tneedyouradvice,Naarad!YouknowIloveHans.You

hadsaidyouwouldhelpme.’‘Iamsorry,butIlied,’saidNaarad.‘Iwasjusthavingfun.’‘Thisisfunforyou?!Whatiswrongwithyou?’Naaradsignalledacoupleofhisemployees.TwowomenwalkedupandpulledanirateSursaaway.‘Iwillmakesureyoulosehalfyourmoneyinyournexttrade,youstupidoaf!’screamedSursa,asthe

womendraggedherout.Assoonastheywerealoneagain,Hanumanglaredathisfriend.‘Whatiswrongwithyou,Naarad?’‘Iwasjusthavingfun,myfriend.Sorry.’HanumanheldthediminutiveNaaradbyhisshoulder, toweringoverhim.‘This isnotfun!Youwere

insultingSursa.And,harassingme.Ishouldthrashyoutoyourbones!’NaaradheldHanuman’shandsinmockremorse,hiseyestwinklingmischievously.‘Youwon’tfeellike

thrashingmewhenItellyouwhotheMalayaputrashaveappointedastheVishnu.’HanumanletNaaradgo.Shocked.‘Appointed?’HowcanGuruVishwamitradothat?WithouttheconsentoftheVayuputras!Naarad smiled. ‘Youwon’t survive adaywithout the information Igiveyou.That’swhyyouwon’t

thrashme!’Hanumanshookhishead,smiledwryly,hitNaaradplayfullyonhisshoulderandsaid,‘Start talking,

youstupidnut.’

Chapter12

‘Radhika!’Sitabrokeintoabroadsmile.Sita’s friendfromhergurukul dayshadmadea surprisevisit.The sixteen-year-oldRadhika, ayear

youngerthanSita,hadbeenledintotheprincess’privatechambersbySamichi,thenewprotocolchiefofMithila.Theprotocolduties,anewadditiontoSamichi’sresponsibilities,keptherbusywithnon-policeworkoflate.SitahadthereforeappointedaDeputyPoliceChieftoassistSamichi.Thisdeputywasmale.Astrongbutfair-mindedofficer,hehadensuredthatSamichi’sbiasesdidnotaffectrealpolicing.Radhikahadnottravelledalone,thistime.Shewasaccompaniedbyherfather,VarunRatnakar,andher

uncle,VayuKesari.Sita had met Varun Ratnakar in the past, but this was her first meeting with Radhika’s uncle and

Ratnakar’s cousin, Vayu Kesari. The uncle did not share any family resemblance with his kin.Substantiallyshort,stockyandfair-complexioned,hismuscularbodywasextraordinarilyhairy.PerhapsheisoneoftheVaanars,thoughtSita.ShewasawarethatRadhika’stribe,theValmikis,werematrilineal.Theirwomendidnotmarryoutside

thecommunity.Men,however,couldmarrynon-Valmikiwomen;ofcourse,ontheconditionthat if theydid, theywouldleavethetribe.PerhapsVayuKesariwasthesonofonesuchexcommunicatedValmikimanandaVaanarwoman.Sitabentdownandtouchedthefeetoftheelderlymen.BothblessedSitawithalonglife.VarunRatnakarwasarespectedintellectualandthinker,reveredby

thosewhovaluedknowledge.Sitaknewhewouldlovetospendtimewithherfather,whowas,perhaps,themost intellectual king in theSapt Sindhu.With the departure of his chief guru,Ashtaavakra, to theHimalayas,Janakmissedphilosophicalconversations.Hewouldbehappytospendsomequalitytimeinthecompanyoffellowintellectuals.ThemensoondepartedforKingJanak’schambers.Samichi,too,excusedherself.Herbusyschedule

didnot leaveherwithmuch time for socialniceties.Sita andRadhikawere soonalone in theMithilaprincess’privatestudy.‘Howislifetreatingyou,Radhika?’askedSita,holdingherfriend’shands.‘Iamnottheoneleadinganexcitinglife,Sita,’smiledRadhika.‘Youare!’‘Me?!’laughedSita,rollinghereyeswithexaggeratedplayfulness.‘Hardly.AllIdoispoliceasmall

kingdom,collecttaxesandredevelopslums.’‘Onlyfornow.Youhavesomuchmoretodo…’Sitainstantlybecameguarded.Thereseemedtobemoretothisconversationthanwasobviousatthe

surfacelevel.Shespokecarefully.‘Yes,IdohavealottodoastheprimeministerofMithila.Butit’snotunmanageable,youknow.Wetrulyareasmallandinsignificantkingdom.’‘ButIndiaisabignation.’Sita spoke even more carefully, ‘What can this remote corner do for India, Radhika?Mithila is a

powerlesskingdomignoredbyall.’‘Thatmaybeso,’smiledRadhika.‘ButnoIndianinhisrightmindwillignoreAgastyakootam.’Sitaheldherbreathmomentarily.Shemaintainedhercalmdemeanour,butherheartwasthumpinglike

thetowncrier’sdrumbeat.

HowdoesRadhikaknow?Whoelsedoes?Ihavenottoldanyone.ExceptMaa.‘Iwanttohelpyou,Sita,’whisperedRadhika.‘Trustme.YouareafriendandIloveyou.And,Ilove

Indiaevenmore.YouareimportantforIndia.JaiParshuRam.’‘JaiParshuRam,’whisperedSita,hesitatingmomentarilybeforeasking,‘Areyourfatherandyou…’Radhikalaughed.‘I’manobody,Sita.Butmyfather…Let’sjustsaythathe’simportant.And,hewants

tohelpyou.Iamjusttheconduit,becausetheuniverseconspiredtomakemeyourfriend.’‘IsyourfatheraMalayaputra?’‘No,heisnot.’‘Vayuputra?’‘TheVayuputrasdonotliveinIndia.ThetribeoftheMahadev,asyouknow,canvisitthesacredland

ofIndiaanytimebutcannotlivehere.So,howcanmyfatherbeaVayuputra?’‘Then,whoishe?’‘Allingoodtime…’smiledRadhika.‘Rightnow,Ihavebeentaskedwithcheckingafewthingswith

you.’

Vashishthasatquietlyon theground, restingagainsta tree.He lookedathisashram from thedistance,seekingsolitudeintheearlymorninghour.Helookedtowardsthegentlyflowingstream.Leavesfloatedonthesurface,strangelyeven-spaced,asifinaquietprocession.Thetree,thewater,theleaves…natureseemedtoreflecthisdeepsatisfaction.Hiswards,thefourprincesofAyodhya—Ram,Bharat,Lakshman,andShatrughan—weregrowing

up well, moulding ideally into his plans. Twelve years had passed since the demon king of Lanka,Raavan,hadcatastrophicallydefeatedEmperorDashrath,changingthefortunesoftheSaptSindhuinonefellblow.IthadconvincedVashishthathatthetimefortheriseoftheVishnuhadarrived.Vashishtha looked again at his modest gurukul. This was where the great Rishi Shukracharya had

mouldedagroupofmarginalisedIndianroyalsintoleadersofoneofthegreatestempirestheworldhadeverseen:theAsuraSavitr,theAsuraSun.Anewgreatempireshallriseagainfromthisholyground.AnewVishnushallrisefromhere.Vashishthahadstillnotmadeuphismind.Hewasn’tsurewhichofthetwo—RamorBharat—he

wouldpushforasthenextVishnu.Onethingwascertain;theVayuputrassupportedhim.Buttherewerelimits towhat the tribe ofLordRudra could do.TheVayuputras andMalayaputras had their fields ofresponsibility;afterall,theVishnuwassupposedtobeofficiallyrecognisedbytheMalayaputras.AndthechiefoftheMalayaputras…Hisformerfriend…Well…I’llmanageit.‘Guruji.’Vashishthaturned.RamandBharathadquietlyapproachedhim.‘Yes,’saidVashishtha.‘Whatdidyoufindout?’‘Theyarenotthere,Guruji,’saidRam.‘They?’‘NotonlyChiefVarun,butmanyofhisadvisersarealsomissingfromtheirvillage.’Varun was the chief of the tribe that managed and maintained this ashram, situated close to the

westernmostpointoftheRiverShon’scourse.Histribe,theValmikis,rentedoutthesepremisestogurusfromtimetotime.VashishthahadhiredthisashramtoserveashisgurukulforthedurationthatthefourAyodhyaprinceswerewithhim.

Vashishtha had hidden the true identity of hiswards from theValmikis.But of late he had begun tosuspect thatperhaps the tribeknewwho thestudentswere. Italsoseemed tohimthat theValmikishadtheirowncarefullykeptsecrets.HehadsentRamandBharattocheckifChiefVarunwasinthevillage.Itwastimetohaveatalkwith

him.Vashishthawouldthendecidewhethertomovehisgurukulornot.ButVarunhadleft.WithoutinformingVashishtha.Whichwasunusual.‘Wherehavetheygone?’askedVashishtha.‘Apparently,Mithila.’Vashishthanodded.HeknewthatVarunwasaloverandseekerofknowledge,especiallythespiritual

kind.Mithilawasanaturalplaceforsuchaperson.‘Allright,boys,’saidVashishtha.‘Getbacktoyourstudies.’

‘WeheardthattheVishnubloodoathhasbeentaken,’saidRadhika.‘Yes,’answeredSita.‘InGuruShvetaketu’sgurukul.Afewyearsago.’Radhikasighed.Sitafrowned.‘Isthereaproblem?’‘Well,MaharishiVishwamitraisalittle…unorthodox.’‘Unorthodox?Whatdoyoumean?’‘Well,forstarters,theVayuputrasshouldhavebeenpresent.’Sitaraisedhereyebrows.‘Ididn’tknowthat…’‘ThetribesoftheVishnuandtheMahadevaresupposedtoworkinpartnership.’Sitalookedupassherealisedsomething.‘GuruVashishtha?’Radhikasmiled.‘Forsomeonewhohasn’tevenbeguntraining,youhavepickedupquitealotalready!’Sitashruggedandsmiled.Radhikaheldherfriend’shand.‘TheVayuputrasdonotlikeortrustMaharishiVishwamitra.Theyhave

their reasons, I suppose. But they cannot oppose theMalayaputra chief openly. And yes, you guessedcorrectly,theVayuputrassupportMaharishiVashishtha.’‘AreyoutellingmethatGuruVashishthahashisownideasaboutwhotheVishnushouldbe?’Radhikanodded.‘Yes.’‘Whydotheyhateeachothersomuch?’‘Veryfewknowforsure.ButtheenmitybetweenGuruVishwamitraandGuruVashishthaisveryold.

And,veryfierce…’Sitalaughedruefully.‘Ifeellikeabladeofgrassstuckbetweentwowarringelephants.’‘Thenyouwouldn’tmindanotherspeciesofgrassnexttoyouforcompanywhilebeingtrampledupon,

Isuppose!’SitaplayfullyhitRadhikaonhershoulders.‘So,whoisthisotherbladeofgrass?’Radhikatookadeepbreath.‘Therearetwo,actually.’‘Two?’‘GuruVashishthaistrainingthem.’‘DoesheplantocreatetwoVishnus?’‘No.FatherbelievesGuruVashishthawillchooseoneofthem.’‘Whoarethey?’‘TheprincesofAyodhya.RamandBharat.’Sita raised her eyebrows. ‘Guru Vashishtha has certainly aimed high. The family of the emperor

himself!’

Radhikasmiled.‘Whoisbetteramongthetwo?’‘MyfatherprefersRam.’‘Andwhodoyouprefer?’‘Myopiniondoesn’tmatter.Frankly, father’sopiniondoesn’tcounteither.TheVayuputraswillback

whomsoeverGuruVashishthachooses.’‘IstherenowayGuruVashishthaandGuruVishwamitracanbemadetoworktogether?Afterall,they

arebothworkingforthegreatergoodofIndia,right?IamwillingtoworkinpartnershipwiththeVishnuthatGuruVashishthaselects.Whycan’ttheypartnereachother?’Radhika shookher head. ‘Theworst enemyaman can ever have is the onewhowasoncehis best

friend.’Sitawasshocked.‘Really?Weretheyfriendsonce?’‘Maharishi Vashishtha and Maharishi Vishwamitra were childhood friends. Almost like brothers.

Somethinghappenedtoturnthemintoenemies.’‘What?’‘Veryfewpeopleknow.Theydon’tspeakaboutitevenwiththeirclosestcompanions.’‘Interesting…’Radhikaremainedsilent.Sita looked out of the window and then at her friend. ‘How do you know so much about Guru

Vashishtha?’‘You know that we host a gurukul close to our village, right? It is GuruVashishtha’s gurukul. He

teachesthefourprincesintheashramwehaverentedout.’‘CanIcomeandmeetRamandBharat? I’mcurious toknowif theyareasgreatasGuruVashishtha

thinkstheyare.’‘Theyare still young,Sita.Ram is fiveyearsyounger thanyou.And,don’t forget, theMalayaputras

keep track of you. They follow you everywhere. We cannot risk revealing the location of GuruVashishtha’sgurukultothem…’Sitawasconstrainedtoagree.‘Hmm.’‘I will keep you informed about what they are doing. I think father intends to have an honest

conversationwithGuruVashishthainanycase.Perhaps,evenofferhishelp.’‘HelpGuruVashishtha?Againstme?’Radhikasmiled.‘Fatherhopesforthesamepartnershipthatyoudo.’Sitabent forward. ‘Ihave toldyoumuchofwhat Iknow. I think Ideserve toknow…Who isyour

father?’Radhikaseemedhesitant.‘YouwouldnothavespokenabouttheAyodhyaprinceshadyourfathernotallowedyoutodoso,’said

Sita.‘And,Iamsurethathewouldhaveexpectedmetoaskthisquestion.So,hewouldn’thavesentyoutomeetmeunlesshewaspreparedtorevealhistrueidentity.Tellme,whoishe?’Radhikapausedforafewmoments.‘HaveyouheardofLadyMohini?’‘Areyouserious?’askedSita.‘Whohasn’theardofher,thegreatVishnu?’Radhikasmiled.‘NoteveryoneconsidersheraVishnu.ButthemajorityofIndiansdo.Iknowthatthe

MalayaputrasrevereherasaVishnu.’‘SodoI.’‘Andsodowe.Myfather’stribeistheoneLadyMohinileftbehind.WearetheValmikis.’Sitasatupstraight.Shocked.‘Wow!’Justthenanotherthoughtstruckher.‘Isyouruncle,VayuKesari,

thefatherofHanubhaiya?’Radhikanodded.‘Yes.’

Sitasmiled.‘That’swhy…’Radhikainterruptedher.‘Youareright.Thatisoneofthereasons.Butit’snottheonlyone.’

Chapter13

‘ChiefVarun,’saidVashishtha,ashecametohisfeetandfoldedhishandsintoarespectfulNamaste.VarunhadjustreturnedfromMithila.And,GuruVashishthahadbeenexpectingavisitfromhim.VashishthawasmuchtallerthanVarun.Butfarthinnerandleanercomparedtothemuscularandsturdy

tribalchief.‘GuruVashishtha,’saidVarun,returningVashishtha’sgreetingpolitely.‘Weneedtotalkinprivate.’Vashishthawasimmediatelywary.Heledthechiefouttoaquieterspot.Minuteslater,theysatbythestreamthatflowedneartheashram,awayfromthefourstudents,aswell

asotherswhomightoverhearthem.‘Whatisit,ChiefVarun?’askedVashishtha,politely.Varunsmiledgenially.‘Youandyourstudentshavebeenhereformanyyears,Guruji.Ithinkit’stime

weproperlyintroduceourselvestoeachother.’Vashishthastrokedhisflowing,snowybeardcarefully,feigningalackofunderstanding.‘Whatdoyou

mean?’‘Imean… for example, the princes ofAyodhya do not have to pretend to be the children of some

noblesorrichtradersanymore.’Vashishtha’sthoughtsimmediatelyflewtothefourboys.Wherewerethey?Weretheybeingroundedup

byVarun’swarriors?ChiefVarun’stribewasnotallowed,accordingtotheirtraditionallaw,tohelpanyAyodhyanroyals.Perhaps, Iwasn’t socleverafterall. I thoughtwewouldbe safe ifwe just stayedaway from the

areasunderLankanorMalayaputrainfluence.Vashishthaleanedforward.‘Ifyouareconcernedaboutyourlaws,youmustalsoremembertheonethat

statesthatyoucannotharmthepeopleyouacceptasyourguests.’Varunsmiled.‘Iintendnoharmeithertoyouoryourstudents,Guruji.’Vashishthabreathedeasy.‘Myapologies,ifIhaveoffendedyou.ButIneededaplacethatwas…safe.

Wewillleaveimmediately.’‘Thereisnoneedtodothateither,’saidVarun,calm.‘Idonotintendtokickyouout.Iintendtohelp

you,Guruji.’Vashishthawastakenaback.‘Isn’titillegalforyoutohelptheAyodhyaroyalty?’‘Yes,itis.Butthereisasupremelawinourtribethatoverrideseveryother.Itistheprimarypurpose

ofourexistence.’Vashishthanodded,pretendingtounderstand,thoughhewasconfused.‘Youmustknowourwarcry:Victoryatallcosts…Whenwarisuponus,weignoreallthelaws.And

awariscoming,myfriend…’Vashishthastaredathim,completelyflummoxed.Varun smiled. ‘Please don’t think I am unaware thatmyVayuputra nephew steals into yourashram

regularly,lateatnight,thinkingwewouldn’tnotice.Hethinkshecanfoolhisuncle.’Vashishthaleanedback,asaveilseemedtoliftfromhiseyes.‘Hanuman?’‘Yes.Hisfatherismycousin.’Vashishthawasstartled,butheaskedinaneventone.‘IsVayuKesariyourbrother?’

‘Yes.’VarunwasawareofthebondthatHanumanandVashishthashared.Manyyearsago,theguruhadhelped

hisnephew.Hechosenottomentionit.Heknewthesituationwascomplicated.‘Whoareyou?’Vashishthafinallyasked.‘MyfullnameisVarunRatnakar.’Suddenly, everything fell into place. Vashishtha knew the significance of that second name.He had

foundallies.Powerfulallies.Bypurechance.Therewasonlyonethinglefttodo.Vashishthaclaspedhisrightelbowwithhislefthandandtouched

hisforeheadwiththeclenchedrightfist,inthetraditionalsaluteofVarun’stribe.Respectfully,heutteredtheancientgreeting.‘JaiDeviMohini!’VarunheldVashishtha’sforearm,likeabrother,andreplied,‘JaiDeviMohini!’

Indians in theSaptSindhuhave a strange relationshipwith theSunGod.Sometimes theywanthim, atother times, theydon’t. In summer, theyputupwithhis rage.Theypleadwithhim, throughprayers, tocalmdownand,ifpossible,hidebehindtheclouds.Inwinter,theyurgehimtoappearwithallhisforceanddriveawaythecoldfuryoftheseason.Itwasononesuchearlywinterday,madegloriousbytheenergisingsun,whenSitaandSamichirode

outintothemainpalacegarden.IthadbeenrefurbishedrecentlyonSita’sorders.Thetwohaddecidedonaprivatecompetition—achariotrace.ItwasasportSitatrulyenjoyed.Thenarrowlanesofthegardenwouldserveastheracingtrack.Theyhadnotracedtogetherinalongtime.And,theyhadneverdonesointheroyalgardenbefore.Thegardenpathswerenarrow,hemmedinwithtreesandfoliage.Itwouldrequireconsiderableskillto

negotiate them in a chariot. The slightestmistakewouldmean crashing into trees at breakneck speed.Dangerous…And,exhilarating.The risk of it, the thrill,made the raceworthwhile. It was a test of instinct and supreme hand-eye

coordination.Theracebeganwithoutanyceremony.‘Hyaah!’screamedSita,whippingherhorses,instantlyurgingthemforward.Faster.Faster.Samichikeptpace,closebehind.Sitalookedbackforaninstant.ShesawSamichiswervingherchariot

to theright.Sita lookedaheadandpulledherhorsesslightly to theright,blockingSamichi’sattempt tosneakpastheratthefirstbend.‘Dammit!’screamedSamichi.Sitagrinnedandwhippedherhorses.‘Move!’Sheswungintothenextcurvewithoutreiningherhorsesin.Speedingasherchariotswervedleft.The

carriage tilted to the right.Sitaexpertlybalancedher feet,bending leftwards tocounter thecentrifugalforcesworkinghardonthechariotatsuchfastspeeds.Thecarriagebalanceditselfandspedaheadasthehorsesgallopedonwithoutslowing.‘Hyaah!’shoutedSitaagain,swingingherwhipintheair.Itwasastraightandnarrowpathnowforsomedistance.Overtakingwasalmostimpossible.Itwasthe

best time to generate some speed. Sita whipped her horses harder. Racing forward. With Samichifollowingclosebehind.Anotherbendlayfartherahead.Thepathbroadenedbeforethecurve,givingapossibleopportunityfor

Samichitoforgeahead.Sitasmoothlypulledthereinstotheright,guidingthehorsestothecentre,leavingaslittlespaceaspossibleoneitherside.Samichisimplycouldnotovertake.

‘Hyaah!’SitaheardSamichi’sloudvoice.Behindher.Totheleft.Hervoicewasmuchlouderthannormal.Like

shewastryingtoannounceherpresence.Sitareadherfriendcorrectly.A few seconds later, Sita quickly swerved.But, unexpectedly, to the right, covering that side of the

road.Samichihadfeignedtheleftwardmovement.Shehadactuallyintendedtoovertakefromtheright.AsSitacutin,thatchancewaslost.SitaheardaloudcursefromSamichi.Grinning,Sitawhippedher horses again.Taking the turn at top speed.Aheadof the curve, the path

wouldstraightenout.Andbecomenarrower.Again.‘Hyaah!’‘Sita!’screamedSamichiloudly.Therewassomethinginhervoice.Panic.Asifoncue,Sita’schariotflipped.Sitaflewupwiththemomentum.Highintheair.Thehorsesdidnotstop.Theykeptgalloping.Instinctively,Sitatuckedinherheadandpulledherlegsup,herkneesclosetoherchest.Sheheldher

headwithherhands.Inbraceposition.TheentireworldappearedtoflowinslowmotionforSita.Hersensesalert.Everythinggoingbyinablur.Whyisittakingsolongtoland?Slam!Sharppainshotthroughherasshelandedhardonhershoulder.Herbodybouncedforward,intheair

again,hurledsickeninglywiththeimpact.‘Princess!’Sitakeptherheadtuckedin.Shehadtoprotectherhead.She landed on her back. Andwas hurled forward, repeatedly rolling on the tough ground, brutally

scrapingherbody.Agreenblurzippedpastherface.Wham!Sheslammedhardagainstatree.Herbackfeltasharppain.Suddenlystationary.Buttohereyes,theworldwasstillspinning.Dazed,Sitastruggledtofocusonhersurroundings.Samichi brought her chariot to a halt, dismounted rapidly, and ran towards the princess. Sita’s own

chariotwasbeingdraggedahead.Sparksflewintheairduetotheintensefrictiongeneratedbythechariotmetalrubbingagainsttheroughroad.Thedisorientedhorseskeptgallopingforwardwildly.SitalookedatSamichi.‘Get…my…chariot…’Andthen,shelostconsciousness.

ItwasdarkwhenSitaawoke.Hereyelidsfeltheavy.Asoftgroanescapedherlips.Sheheardapanic-strickensqueal.‘Didi…Areyoualright…?Talktome…’ItwasUrmila.‘I’malright,Urmila…’Herfathergentlyscoldedthelittlegirl.‘Urmila,letyoursisterrest.’Sitaopenedhereyesandblinkedrapidly.The light fromthevarious torches in theroomflooded in.

Blindingher.Shelethereyelidsdroop.‘Howlong…haveIbeen…’‘Thewholeday,Didi.’Justaday?Itfeelslonger.Herentirebodywasamassofpain.Exceptherleftshoulder.Andherback.Theywerenumb.Painkillers.MaytheAshwiniKumarsblessthedoctors.Sitaopenedhereyesagain.Slowly.Allowingthelighttogentlyseepin.Allowingherpupilstoadjust.Urmilastoodbythebedside,clutchingthebedsheetwithbothhands.Herroundeyesweretinypoolsof

water.Tearsstreameddownherface.Herfather,Janak,stoodbehindhisyoungerdaughter.Hisnormallyserenefacewashaggard,linedwithworry.Hehadjustrecoveredfromaseriousillness.Thelastthingheneededwasthisadditionalstress.‘Baba…’saidSitatoherfather.‘Youshouldberesting…Youarestillweak…’Janakshookhishead.‘Youaremystrength.Getwellsoon.’‘Gobacktoyourroom,Baba…’‘Iwill.Yourest.Don’ttalk.’Sita looked beyond her family. Samichiwas there.AswasArishtanemi.Hewas the only onewho

lookedcalm.Unruffled.Sitatookadeepbreath.Shecouldfeelherangerrising.‘Samichi…’‘Yes,princess,’saidSamichi,asshequicklywalkeduptothebed.‘Mychariot…’‘Yes,princess.’‘Iwantto…seeit…’‘Yes,princess.’Sita noticed Arishtanemi hanging back. There was a slight smile on his face now. A smile of

admiration.

‘Whodoyouthinktriedtokillyou?’askedArishtanemi.Ithadbeenfivedayssincethechariotaccident.Sitahadrecoveredenoughtobeabletositupinbed.

Evenwalk around a bit. She ate like a soldier, quickly increasing her energy levels and boosting heralertness.Afullrecoverywouldtakeafewweeks.Herleftarmwasinasling.Herbackwasplasteredwiththickneempaste,mixedwithtissue-repairing

Ayurvedicmedicines.Miniaturebandagescoveredmostpartsofherbody,protectingnicksandcuts tomakethemhealquickly.‘One doesn’t need to be Vyomkesh to figure this out,’ said Sita, referring to a popular fictional

detectivefromfolkstories.Arishtanemilaughedsoftly.ThechariothadbeenbroughttoSita’slargechamberintheAyuralay.Sitahadexamineditthoroughly.

Ithadbeenverycleverlydone.Woodfromanothertypeoftreehadbeenusedtoreplacethetwosuspensionbeams.Itwassimilarin

appearancetothewoodusedintherestofthecarriage.Itlookedhardy.Butwas,infact,weak.Thenailmarksthatfixedthebeamsonthemainshaftwerefresh,despitecarebeingtakentouseoldnails.Onebeamhadcrackedlikeatwigwhenstrainedbythespeedofmovementonunevengroundandthesharpturns. The beam had collapsed and jammed into the ground, seizing up the axle. This had brought thewheelstoanabrupthaltwhenatagreatspeed.Thechariothadlevereduponthebrokensuspensionbeamasitsfront-endhadrammedintotheground.Verycleverlydone.

Whoeverhaddonethishadthepatienceofastargazer.Itcouldhavebeendonemanymonthsago.Ithadbeen made to look like an old construction flaw, a genuine error. To make the death appear like anaccident.Andnotanassassination.Sitahaduncoveredtheconspiracyonlythroughacloseinspectionofthenailmarks.ThechariotwasSita’s.Thetargetobvious.ShewastheonlyonewhostoodbetweenMithilaandits

expansionaryenemies.Urmilacouldsimplybemarriedoff.AndJanak…Well.AfterSita,itwouldonlybeamatteroftime.She had been extremely lucky. The accident had occurred when the last bend had almost been

negotiated,makingthechariotdraginadirectiondifferentfromwhereSitawasflungduetotheinertiaofherbodilymovement.Otherwise,shewouldhavebeencrushedunderthewheelsandmetalofherchariot.Itwouldhavebeenanalmostcertaindeath.‘Whatdoyouwanttodo?’askedArishtanemi.Sita hadnodoubt inhermind aboutwho theperpetratorwasbehindher supposed accident. ‘Iwas

willingtoconsideranalliance.Frankly,hecouldhavebecometheheadoftheroyalfamily,too.Afterall,Ihavebiggerplans.AllIhadaskedforwasthatmyfatherandsisterbesafeandtreatedwell.And,mycitizensbetakencareof.That’sit.Whydidhedothis?’‘People are greedy. They are stupid. They misread situations. Also, remember, outside of the

Malayaputras, no one knows about your special destiny. Perhaps, he sees you as a future ruler and athreat.’‘WhenisGuruVishwamitracomingback?’Arishtanemishrugged.‘Idon’tknow.’Sowehavetodothisourselves.‘Whatdoyouwanttodo?’repeatedArishtanemi.‘GuruVishwamitrawasright.Hehadtoldmeonce…Neverwait.Getyourretaliationinfirst.’Arishtanemismiled.‘Asurgicalstrike?’‘Ican’tdoitopenly.Mithilacannotaffordanopenwar.’‘Whatdoyouhaveinmind?’‘Itmustlooklikeanaccident,justlikeminewasmeanttobe.’‘Yes,itmust.’‘And,itcannotbethemainman.’Arishtanemifrowned.‘Themainmanisjustthestrategist.Inanycase,Ican’tattackhimdirectly…Mymotherhadprohibited

it…Wemustcutoffhisrighthand.Sothathelosestheabilitytoexecutesuchplans.’‘Sulochan.’Sulochanwas theprimeministerofSankashya.Theright-handmanofSita’suncleKushadhwaj.The

manwhoranpracticallyeverythingforhisking.KushadhwajwouldbeparalysedwithoutSulochan.Sitanodded.Arishtanemi’sfacewashardasstone.‘Itwillbedone.’Sitadidnotreact.Now, you are truly worthy of being a Vishnu, thought Arishtanemi.A Vishnu who can’t fight for

herselfwouldbeincapableoffightingforherpeople.

Marahadchosenhisdayandtimewell.Theboisterousnine-day festivitiesof theWinterNavratra always included the day thatmarked the

Uttarayan, the beginning of thenorthwardmovement of the sun. Thiswas the day the nurturer of the

world,thesun,wasfarthestawayfromthenorthernhemisphere.Itwouldnowbeginitssix-monthjourneybacktothenorth.Uttarayanwas,inasense,aharbingerofrenewal.Thedeathoftheold.Thebirthofthenew.Itwasthefirsthourofthefirstprahar.Justaftermidnight.Exceptfortheriverportarea, thecityof

Sankashyawasasleep.Thepeacefulsleepofthetiredandhappy.Festivalsmanagetodothat.Thecityguards,though,wereamongthefewwhowereawake.Throughoutthecity,onecouldheartheirloudcallsonthehour,everyhour:Alliswell.Alas,notalltheguardswereasduty-conscious.TwentysuchmensathuddledintheguardroomatPrimeMinisterSulochan’spalace;itwasthehourof

theirmidnightsnack.Theyshouldnothave left theirposts.But thishadbeenaseverewinter.And, thesnackwasonlyanexcuse.Theyhad,infact,gravitatedtothewarmfireplaceintheroomlikefireflies.Itwasjustabreak,theyknew.Theywouldsoonbebackonguard.Sulochan’spalacewasperchedonahill,skirtingtheroyalgardenofSankashyaatoneend.Attheother

endwasthegenerousRiverGandaki.Itwasatrulypicturesquespot,aptfortheresidenceofthesecond-most powerful man in the city. But not very kind to the guards. The palace’s elevation increased theseverityofthefrostywinds.Itmadestandingatthepostsabattleagainsttheelements.So,thementrulycherishedthewarmthoftheguardroom.Twoguardslayonthepalacerooftop,towardstheroyalgardenend.Theirbreathingevenandsteady.

Sleeping soundly. They would not remember anything. Actually, there was nothing to remember. Anodourlessgashadgentlybreezedinandnudgedthemintoasoundsleep.Theywouldwakeupthenextmorning,guiltilyawarethattheyhaddozedoffonduty.Theywouldn’tadmitthistoanyinvestigator.Thepunishmentforsleepingwhileonguarddutywasdeath.Marawasnotacrassassassin.Anybrutewithabludgeoncouldkill.Hewasanartist.OnehiredMara

onlyifonewantedtoemployashadow.Ashadowthatwouldemergefromthedarkness,foronlyalittlewhile,andthenquicklyretreat.Leavingnotatrace.Leavingjustabodybehind.Therightbody;always,therightbody.Nowitnesses.Nolooseends.Noother‘wrong’body.Nounnecessarycluesforthemindofasavvyinvestigator.Mara,theartist,wasintheprocessofcraftingoneofhisfinestcreations.Sulochan’swifeandchildrenwereathermaternalhome.TheWinterNavratrawastheperiodofher

annualvacationwithherfamily.Sulochanusuallyjoinedthemafterafewdays,buthadbeenheldbackthistimebysomeurgentstatebusiness.Theprimeministerwashomealone.Indeed,Marahadchosenthedayandtimewell.Forhehadbeentoldstrictly:avoidcollateraldamage.HelookedattheobeseformofPrimeMinisterSulochan.Lyingonthebed.Hishandsonhissides.Feet

floppedoutwards.Ashewouldordinarilysleep.Hewaswearingabeigedhoti.Bare-chested.Hehadplacedhisangvastramonthebedsidecabinet.Foldedneatly.Asheordinarilywouldhavedonebeforegoingtosleep.Hisringsandjewelleryhadbeenremovedandplacedinsidethejewellerybox,nexttotheangvastram.Again,asheordinarilywould.But, hewas not breathing as he ordinarilywould.Hewas already dead.Aherbal poison had been

cleverlyadministeredthroughhisnose.Notraceswouldbeleftbehind.Thepoisonhadalmostinstantlyparalysedthemusclesinhisbody.Theheart is amuscle.So is thediaphragm, locatedbelow the lungs.Thevictimasphyxiatedwithin

minutes.Perhaps,Sulochanhadbeenconsciousthroughit.Perhapsnot.Nobodywouldknow.AndMaradidn’tcaretoknow.Theassassinationhadbeencarriedout.Marawasnowsettingthescene.He picked up amanuscript from a shelf. It chronicled the doomed love story of a courtesan and a

peripatetictrader.ThestorywasalreadyapopularplaythroughouttheSaptSindhu.Itwaswellknownthat Sulochan liked reading. And that he especially loved a good romance. Mara walked over toSulochan’scorpseandplacedthedog-earedmanuscriptonthebed,bythesideofhischest.Sulochanhadfallenasleepwhilereading.Hepickedupaglass-encasedlamp,litthewick,andplaceditonthebedsidecabinet.Hisreadinglamp…Hepickedupthedecanterofwinelyingonatable-topatthefarendoftheroomandplaceditonthe

cabinet,alongwithaglass.Hepouredsomewineintotheemptyglass.PrimeMinisterSulochanhadbeendrinkingwineandreadingaromanticnovelattheendofatiring

day.HeplacedabowlfulofanAyurvedicpasteon thebedsidecabinet.Hedippedawooden tong in the

paste,openedSulochan’smouthandspreaditevenlyinside,takingcaretoincludethebackofhisthroat.Adoctorwouldrecognisethispasteasahomeremedyforstomachacheandgas.Theprimeministerwasquitefat.Stomachtroublewouldsurelyhavebeencommon.Andhewasalso

knowntohaveenoughAyurvedicknowledgeforhomeremediesforminordiseasesandafflictions.Hewalkedtowardsthewindow.Openwindow.Windynight.HeretracedhisstepsandpulledthecoveringsheetuptoSulochan’sneck.Sulochanhadcoveredhimselfup.Hewasfeelingcold.Maratouchedthesheetandtheangvastram.Andcastacarefulglancearoundtheroom.Everythingwas

asitshouldbe.Perfect.Sulochanhad, itwouldbededuced,confused thebeginningsofaheart attack fora stomachandgas

problem.Aregrettablycommonmistake.Hehadhadsomemedicineforit.Themedicinehadrelievedhisdiscomfort. Somewhat.Hehad then pickedup a book to read andpoured himself somewine.He hadbeguntofeelthechill,typicalofaheartattack.Hehadpulleduphissheettocoverhimself.Andthentheheartattackhadstruckwithitsfullferocity.Unfortunate.Perfectlyunfortunate.Marasmiled.Helookedaroundthesceneandtookafinalmentalpicture.Ashealwaysdid.Hefrowned.Something’snotright.Helookedaroundagain.Withanimalalertness.Damn!Bloodystupid!MarawalkeduptoSulochanandpickeduphisleftarm.Rigormortiswassettinginandthebodyhad

alreadybeguntostiffen.Withsomeeffort,MaraplacedSulochan’slefthandonhischest.Withstrain,hespreadthefingersapart.Asifthemanhaddiedclutchinghischestinpain.Ishouldhavedonethisearlier.Stupid!Stupid!Satisfiedwithhisworknow,Maraonceagainscannedtheroom.Perfect.Itlookedlikeasimpleheartattack.Hestoodinsilence,filledwithadmirationforhiscreation.Hekissedthefingertipsofhisrighthand.No,hewasnotjustakiller.Hewasanartist.Myworkhereisdone.Heturnedandbrisklywalkeduptothewindow,leaptupandgrabbedtheparapetoftheroof.Usingthe

momentum,hesomersaultedandlandedonhisfeetabovetheparapet.Soonhewasontherooftop.Marawas the invisibleman.Thedark,non-transferablepolish thathehad rubbedall overhis skin,

alongwithhisblackdhoti,ensuredthathewentunseeninthenight.

Themaestrosighedwithsatisfaction.Hecouldhearthesoundsofthenight.Thechirpingcrickets.Thecracklingfirefromtheguardroom.Therustlingwind.Thesoftsnoresoftheguardsasleepontheroof…Everythingwasasitshouldbe.Nothingwasamiss.Heraninthedirectionoftheroyalgarden.Withoutanyhesitation.Buildingupspeed.Ashenearedthe

edge of the roof, he leapt like a cat and glided above the ground. His outstretched arms caught anoverhangingbranchofatree.Heswungontothebranch,balancedhiswaytothetreetrunkandsmoothlyslidtotheground.Hebeganrunning.Softfeet.Silentbreaths.Nounnecessarysound.Mara,theshadow,disappearedintothedarkness.Losttothelight.Again.

Chapter14

Mithila was more stable than it had been in years. The rebuilt slums, along with the ancillaryopportunities it provided, had dramatically improved the lives of the poor. Cultivation in the landbetween the two fortwallshad led toa spike inagriculturalproduction. Inflationwasdown.And, theunfortunatedeathofthedynamicprimeministerofSankashyahadneutralisedKushadhwajsubstantially.Noonegrudged thenowpopularSitaherdecision to carryout a spateofdiplomaticvisits across thecountry.Of course, few knew that the first visit would be to the fabled capital of the Malayaputras:

Agastyakootam.The journey was a long and convoluted one. Jatayu, Sita, and a large Malayaputra company first

travelledtoSankashyabythedirtroad.Thereafter, theysailedonriverboatsdowntheGandaki till itsconfluencewiththemightyGanga.Then,theysaileduptheGangatoitsclosestpointtotheYamuna.TheythenmarchedoverlandtothebanksoftheYamunaandsaileddowntherivertillitmettheSutlejtoformtheSaraswati. From there, they sailed farther down theSaraswati till itmerged into theWesternSea.Next,theyboardedaseaworthyshipandwerepresentlysailingdownthewesterncoastofIndia,towardsthesouthwesterntipof theIndiansubcontinent.Destination:Kerala.SomecalleditGod’sowncountry.Andwhynot,forthiswasthelandthepreviousVishnu,LordParshuRam,hadcalledhisown.Onanearlysummermorning,withalightwindinitssails,theshipmovedsmoothlyovercalmwaters.

Sita’sfirstexperienceoftheseawaspleasantandfreeofdiscomfort.‘WasLordParshuRamborninAgastyakootam?’askedSita.SitaandJatayustoodonthemaindeck,theirhandsrestinglightlyonthebalustrade.Jatayuturnedtoher

asheleanedagainstthebar.‘Webelieveso.ThoughIcan’tgiveyouproof.ButwecancertainlysaythatLordParshuRambelongstoKeralaandKeralabelongstohim.’Sitasmiled.Jatayupre-emptedwhathe thoughtSitawould say. ‘Ofcourse, I amnotdenying thatmanyothers in

IndiaareasdevotedtoLordParshuRamasweare.’Shewas about to say something butwas distracted as her eyes fell upon two ships in the distance.

Lankanships.Theyweremovingsmoothly,butatastartlingspeed.Sita frowned. ‘Those ships look the same as ours. They have asmany sails as ours.How are they

sailingsomuchfaster?’Jatayusighed.‘Idon’tknow.It’samystery.Butit’sahugemaritimeadvantageforthem.Theirarmies

andtraderstraveltofarawayregionsfasterthananyoneelsecan.’Raavanmusthavesometechnologythattheothersdonotpossess.Shelookedatthemastheadsofthetwoships.Black-colouredLankanflags,withtheimageofthehead

ofaroaringlionemergingfromaprofusionoffieryflames,flutteredproudlyinthewind.Notforthefirsttime,SitawonderedabouttherelationshipbetweentheMalayaputrasandtheLankans.

AstheynearedtheKeralacoast,thetravellersweretransferredtoashipwithalesserdraught,suitable

fortheshallowerbackwaterstheywouldnowsailinto.SitahadbeeninformedinadvancebyJatayuandknewwhattoexpectastheyapproachedthelandmass.

Theysailedintothemaze-likewaterbodiesthatbeganatthecoast.Amixofstreams,rivers,lakesandfloodedmarshes,theyformedanavigablechannelintotheheartofGod’sowncountry.Charmingatfirstglance,thesewaterscouldbetreacherous;theyconstantlychangedcourseinalandblessedwithabundantwater.Asaresult,newlakescameintobeingasoldonesdrainedeveryfewdecades.Fortuitously,mostofthesebackwaterswereinter-connected.Ifoneknewhow,onecouldnavigatethiswaterylabyrinthintothehinterland.Butifonewasnotguidedwell,itwaseasytogetlostorgrounded.And,inthisrelativelyuninhabitedarea,populatedwithallkindsofdangerousanimals,thatcouldbeadeathsentence.Sita’s ship sailed in thisconfusingmeshofwaterways foroveraweek till it reachedanondescript

channel.Atfirst,shedidnotnoticethethreetallcoconuttreesattheentrancetothechannel.Thecreepersthatspreadoverthethreetrunksseemedfashionedintoajigsawofaxe-parts.Thechannel ledtoadeadend,coveredbya thickgroveof trees.Nosightofadockwheretheship

couldanchor.Sitafrowned.Sheassumedthattheywouldanchormid-streamandmeetsomeboatssoon.Amazingly,theshipshowednosignsofslowingdown.Infact,thedrumbeatsofthepace-setterspickedupanotch.Astherowersrowedtoafasterbeat,thevesselgatheredspeed,headingstraightforthegrove!Sitawasaloneontheupperdeck.Sheheldtherailingsnervouslyandspokealoud,‘Slowdown.We

aretooclose.’ButhervoicedidnotcarrytoJatayu,whowasonthesecondarydeckwithhisstaff,supervisingsome

intricateoperations.Howcanhenotseethis!Thegroveisrightinfrontofus!‘Jatayuji!’screamedSita inpanic,surenowthat theshipwouldsoonrunaground.She tightenedher

gripontherailing,bentlowandbracedherself.Readyforimpact.Noimpact.Amildjolt,aslightslowing,buttheshipsailedon.Sitaraisedherhead.Confused.Thetreesmoved,effortlesslypushedasidebytheship!Thevesselsaileddeepintowhatshouldhave

beenthegrove.Sitabentoverandlookedintothewater.Hermouthfellopeninawe.BythegreatLordVarun.Floatingtreeswerepushedasideastheshipmovedintoahiddenlagoonahead.Shelookedback.The

floating treeshadmovedback intoposition,hiding thesecret lagoonas theshipsailed forward.Later,Jatayuwouldrevealtoherthattheywereaspecialsub-speciesoftheSundaritree.Sitasmiledwithwonderandshookherhead.‘WhatmysteriesaboundinthelandofLordParshuRam!’Shefacedthefrontagain,hereyesaglow.Andthen,shefrozeinhorror.Riversofblood!Banginfrontofher,inthedistance,wherethelagoonendedandthehillsbegan,threestreamsofblood

flowedinfromdifferentdirectionsandmergedintothecove.Itwasbelievedthatalongtimeago,LordParshuRamhadmassacredalltheevilkingsinIndiawho

wereoppressing theirpeople.Legendhad it thatwhenhe finally stopped,hisblood-drenchedaxehadspewed the tainted blood of those wicked kings in an act of self-purification. It had turned the riverMalaprabhared.Butit’sjustalegend!Yethereshewas,onaship,seeingnotone,butthreerapidstreamsofblooddisgorgingintothelagoon.SitaclutchedherRudraakshpendantinfearasherheartrateraced.LordRudra,havemercy.

‘Sitaisonherway,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi,asheenteredtheHallofHundredPillars.‘SheshouldbeinAgastyakootamintwoorthreeweeksatmost.’VishwamitrasatinthemainParshuRamEshwartempleinAgastyakootam.Thetemplewasdedicated

to the one that Lord ParshuRamworshipped:LordRudra.He looked up from themanuscript hewasreading.‘That’sgoodnews.Areallthepreparationsdone?‘Yes,Guruji,’saidArishtanemi.Heextendedhishandandheldoutascroll.Thesealhadbeenbroken.

Butitcouldstillberecognised.ItwastheroyalsealofthedescendantsofAnu.‘AndKingAshwapatihassentamessage.’Vishwamitra smiledwith satisfaction.Ashwapati, thekingofKekaya,was the fatherofKaikeyiand

EmperorDashrath’sfather-in-law.ThatalsomadehimthegrandfatherofDashrath’ssecondson,Bharat.‘So,hehasseenthelightandseekstobuildnewrelationships.’‘Ambition has its uses, Guruji,’ said Arishtanemi. ‘Whether the ambition is for oneself or one’s

progeny.Ibelieve,anAyodhyanoblemancalledGeneralMrigasyahasshown…’‘Guruji!’Anoviceranintothehall,pantingwithexertion.Vishwamitralookedup,irritated.‘Guruji,sheispractising.’Vishwamitraimmediatelyrosetohisfeet.Hequicklyfoldedhishandstogetherandpaidhisrespectsto

the idolsofLordRudraandLordParshuRam.Then,he rushedoutof the temple, followedcloselybyArishtanemiandthenovice.Theyquicklymountedtheirhorsesandbrokeintoagallop.Therewaspreciouslittletimetolose.Withinashortwhile,theywereexactlywheretheywantedtobe.Asmallcrowdhadalreadygathered.

Onhallowedground.Underatoweralmostthirtymetresinheight,builtofstone.Someheadsweretiltedupwards, towards a tinywooden house built on top of the tower.Others sat on the ground, their eyesclosedinbliss.Someweregentlycrying,rockingwithemotionscoursingthroughtheirbeing.Agloriousmusicalrenditionwaftedthroughtheair.Divinefingerspluckedthestringsofaninstrument

seemingly fashionedbyGodhimself.Awoman,whohadnot steppedout of that house for years,wasplayingtheRudraVeena.Aninstrumentnamedafter thepreviousMahadev.WhatwasbeingperformedwasaragathatmostIndianmusicaficionadoswouldrecognise.SomecalleditRagaHindolam,otherscalleditRagaMalkauns.AcompositiondedicatedtothegreatMahadevhimself,LordRudra.Vishwamitrarushedinastheothersmadeway.Hestoppedatthebaseofthestaircaseattheentranceto

thetower.Thesoundwassoft,filteredbythewoodenwallsofthehouse.Itwasheavenly.Vishwamitrafelthisheartinstantlysettleintotheharmonicrhythm.Tearswelledupinhiseyes.‘Wah,Annapoornadevi,wah,’mouthedVishwamitra,asthoughnotwantingtobreakthespellwithany

superfluoussound,eventhatofhisownvoice.AccordingtoVishwamitra,Annapoornawasundoubtedlythegreateststringed-instrumentplayeralive.

Butifsheheardanysuchwordsofpraise,shemightstopherpractice.Hundredshadgathered,asifrisenfromtheground.Arishtanemilookedatthemuncomfortably.Hehad

neverbeenhappyaboutthis.Offeringrefuge to theestrangedwifeof thechiefcourtmusicianofLanka?A former favouriteof

Raavanhimself?Arishtanemipossessedamilitarymind.Giventostrategicthought.Notforhimtheemotionalswingsof

thosepassionatelyinlovewithmusic.ButheknewthathisGurudidnotagreewithhim.Sohewaited,patiently.Theragacontinuedtoweaveitsetherealmagic.

‘It’snotblood,mysister,’saidJatayu,lookingatSita.ThoughSitahadnot askedanyquestion regarding the ‘riversofblood’, the terroronher facemade

Jatayuwanttoeasehermind.ShedidnotletgoofherRudraakshpendant,butherfacerelaxed.TheMalayaputras,meanwhile,wereanchoringthevesseltothefloatingjetty.‘It’snot?’askedSita.‘No. It’s theeffectofauniqueriverweedwhichgrowshere. It lines thebottomof thestreamand is

reddish-violet in colour. These streams are shallow, so they appear red from a distance. As if it’s astreamfullofblood.Butthe‘blood’doesn’tdiscolourthelagoon,don’tyousee?Becausetheriverweedsaretoodeepinthelagoontobeseen.’Sitagrinnedinembarrassment.‘It can be alarming, the first time one sees it. For us, it marks Lord Parshu Ram’s territory. The

legendaryriverofblood.’Sitanodded.‘But blood can flowby othermeans, in this region.There are dangerouswild animals in the dense

junglesbetweenhereandAgastyakootam.Andwehavea two-weekmarchaheadofus.Wemust sticktogetherandmovecautiously.’‘Allright.’Theirconversationwascutshortbytheloudbangofthegangwayplankcrashingonthefloatingjetty.

A little less than twoweeks later, the companyof fiveplatoonsneared their destination.Theyhadcutthroughunmarked,denseforestsalongtheway,wherenoclearpathwayhadbeenmade.SitarealisedthatunlessonewasledbytheMalayaputras,onewouldbehopelesslylostinthesejungles.Excitementcoursedthroughherveinsas theycrestedthefinalhillandbeheldthevalleythatcradled

LordParshuRam’scity.‘Wow…’whisperedSita.Standingontheshouldersofthevalley,sheadmiredthegrandiosebeautyspreadoutbelowher.Itwas

beyondimagination.TheThamiravaruniriverbegantothewestandcrashedintothishuge,egg-shapedvalleyinaseriesof

massivewaterfalls.Thevalleyitselfwascarpetedwithdensevegetationandanimpenetrabletreecover.Theriversnaked itsway throughthevaleandexitedat theeastern,narrowerend; flowing towards thelandwheretheTamillived.Thevalleywasdeep,descendingalmosteighthundredmetresfromthepeaksinthewest,fromwhere

the Thamiravaruni crashed into it. The sides of the valley fell sharply from its shoulders to its floor,givingitsteepedges.Theshouldersofthevalleywerecolouredred;perhapstheeffectofsomemetallicore.Theriverpickedupsomeofthisoreasitbeganitsdescentdownthewaterfall.Itlentafaint,redhueto thewaters. Thewaterfalls looked eerily bloody. The river snaked through the valley like a lightlycolouredredsnake,slitheringacrossanopen,lushgreenegg.Mostofthevalleyhadbeenerodedovertheagesbytheriverwaters,heavyrainfall,andfiercewinds.

Allexceptforonegiantmonolith,ahumongoustower-likemountainofasinglerock.Itstoodataproudheightofeighthundredandfiftymetresfromthevalleyfloor,toweringwellabovethevalley’sshoulders.Massive inbreadthaswell, it coveredalmost six squarekilometres.Themonolithwascolouredgrey,signifying that itwasmadeofgranite,oneof thehardeststones there is.Whichexplainedwhyitstoodtall, like a sentinel against the ravages of time, refusing to break even as Mother Nature constantlyreshapedeverythingaroundit.Earlyeveningcloudsobstructedherview,yetSitawasoverwhelmedbyitsgrandeur.

Thesidesof themonolithwerealmostaninety-degreedropfromthe top to thevalleyfloor.Thoughpractically vertical, the sides were jagged and craggy. The crags sprouted shrubs and ferns. Somecreepersclungonbravelytothesidesofthemonolith.Treesgrewonthetop,whichwasamassivespaceof six square kilometres in area. Besides the small amount of vegetation clinging desperately to themonolith’s sides, itwas a largely naked rock, standing in austere glory against the profusion of greenvegetationthatpopulatedeveryothernookandcrannyofthevalleybelow.TheParshuRamEshwartemplewasatthetopofthemonolith.ButSitacouldnotgetaveryclearview

becauseitwashiddenbehindcloudcover.ThemonolithwasAgastyakootam;literally,thehillofAgastya.TheMalayaputrashadeasedtheotherwiseimpossibleaccesstoAgastyakootamwitharope-and-metal

bridgefromthevalleyshoulderstothemonolith.‘Shallwecrossovertotheotherside?’askedJatayu.‘Yes,’answeredSita,tearinghergazeawayfromthegiantrock.‘JaiParshuRam.’‘JaiParshuRam.’

Jatayuledhishorsecarefullyoverthelongrope-and-metalbridge.Sitafollowedwithherhorseintow.Therestofthecompanyfellinline,onebehindtheother.Sita was amazed by the stability of the rope bridge. Jatayu explained that this was due to the

innovativelydesignedhollowmetalplanks thatbuttressed thebottomof thebridge.The foundations oftheseinterconnectedplankslayburieddeeponbothsides;oneatthevalley-shoulderend,theotheratthegranitemonolith.Intriguingasthebridgedesignwas,itdidnotholdSita’sattentionforlong.Shepeeredovertherope-

railingattheThamiravaruni,flowingsomeeighthundredmetresbelowher.Shesteadiedherself;itwasalongandsteepdrop.TheThamiravarunicrashedhead-onintothemonoliththatSitawaswalkingtowards.Theriverthenbrokeintotwostreams,which,likelovingarms,embracedthesheerrock.Theyre-joinedontheothersideofthemonolith;andthen, theThamiravarunicontinuedflowingeast,outof thevalley.Themonolithofgraniterockwasthus,technically,ariverineisland.‘WhatdoesthenameThamiravarunimean,Jatayuji?’askedSita.Jatayuansweredwithout turning around. ‘Varuni is thatwhich comes fromLordVarun, theGod of

WaterandtheSeas.Intheseparts,itissimplyanotherwordforriver.AndThamira,inthelocaldialect,hastwomeanings.Oneisred.’Sitasmiled.‘Well,that’sano-brainer!Theredriver!’Jatayulaughed.‘ButThamirahasanothermeaning,too.’‘What?’‘Copper.’

AsSitanearedtheotherside,thecloudsparted.Shecametoasuddenhalt,makingherhorsefalter.Herjawdropped.Insheeramazementandawe.‘HowinLordRudra’snamedidtheybuildthis?’Jatayu smiled as he looked back at Sita and gestured that she keepmoving. He turned quickly and

resumedhiswalk.Hehadbeentrainedtobecarefulonthebridge.Amassive curvilinear cave had been carved into themonolith.Almost fifteenmetres in height and

probablyaroundfiftymetresdeep,thecaveranallalongtheouteredgeofthemonolith,inacontinuousline,itsfloorandceilingrisinggentlyasitspiralleditswaytothetopofthestonestructure.Itthereforeservedasaroad,built into themonolith itself.The‘road’spiralled itswaydowntoa lowerheightaswell,tillitreachedthepointofthemonolithwhereitwastwohundredmetresabovethevalleyfloor.Butthis longcontinuouscave,whichranwithin thesurfaceof thestructure,with the internalmonolithrockserving as its road and roof, did not just serve as a passage. On the inner side of this cave wereconstructions,againcarvedoutofthemonolithrockitself.Theseconstructionsservedashouses,offices,shopsandotherbuildingsrequiredforcivilisedliving.Thisinnovativeconstruction,builtdeeperintotheinnerpartsofthemonolithitself,housedalargeproportionofthetenthousandMalayaputraswholivedinAgastyakootam.Therestlivedontopofthemonolith.TherewereanotherninetythousandMalayaputras,stationedincampsacrossthegreatlandofIndia.‘Howcananyonecarvesomethingthisgiganticintostoneashardasgranite?’askedSita.‘Thattooina

rockfacethatisalmostcompletelyvertical?ThisistheworkoftheGods!’‘TheMalayaputrasrepresenttheGod,LordParshuRam,himself,’saidJatayu.‘Nothingisbeyondus.’Ashesteppedoffthebridgeontothelandingareacarvedintothemonolith,Jatayumountedhishorse

again.Theceilingofthecavewashighenoughtocomfortablyallowamountedsoldiertoridealong.HeturnedtoseeSitaclimbingontoherhorseaswell.Butshedidnotmove.Shewasadmiringtheintricatelyengraved railings carved out at the edge of the cave, along the right side of the ‘road’. The artistryimposedonitdistractedonefromthesheerfallintothevalleythattherailingprevented.Therailingitselfwasaroundtwometreshigh.Pillarshadbeencarvedintoit,whichalsoallowedopenspacesinbetweenforlight.The‘fish’symbolwasdelicatelycarvedintoeachpillar’scentre.‘Mysister,’whisperedJatayu.Sitahadsteeredherhorse towards the four-floorhouseson the left innersideof thecave road.She

turnedherattentionbacktoJatayu.‘Promiseme,mysister,’saidJatayu,‘youwillnotshrinkorturnback,nomatterwhatliesahead.’‘What?’frownedSita.‘I think I understand younow.What you’re about towalk intomayoverwhelmyou.But you cannot

imaginehowimportantthisdayisforusMalayaputras.Don’tpullbackfromanyone.Please.’BeforeSitacouldaskanyfurtherquestions,Jatayuhadmovedahead.Jatayusteeredhishorse to the

right,wheretheroadrosegently,spirallingitswaytothetop.Sitatookickedherhorseintoaction.Andthen,thedrumbeatsbegan.Astheroadopenedahead,shesawlargenumbersofpeoplelinedonbothsides.Noneofthemwore

anyangvastrams.Thepeople ofKerala dressed thisway,when they entered temples toworship theirGods andGoddesses. The absence of theangvastram symbolised that theywere the servants of theirGodsandGoddesses.And,theyweredressedthiswaytoday,astheirlivingGoddesshadcomehome.Atregularintervalsstooddrummerswithlargedrumshangingfromclothropesaroundtheirshoulders.

As Sita emerged, they began a rhythmic, evocative beat. Next to each drummer was a veena player,stringingmelodytotherhythmofthedrummers.Therestofthecrowdwasontheirknees,headsbowed.And,theywerechanting.Thewordsfloatedintheair.Clearandprecise.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiSaakshinenamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstotheWitnessSitalookedon,unblinking.Unsureofwhattodo.Herhorse,too,hadstopped.Jatayupulleduphishorseand fellbehindSita.HemadeaclickingsoundandSita’shorsebegan to

move.Forward,onagentlegradienttothetop.Andthus,ledbySita,theprocessionmovedahead.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiMatsyaayanamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLordMatsyaSita’shorsemovedslowly,butunhesitatingly.Mostofthefacesinthecrowdwerefilledwithdevotion.

Andmanyhadtearsflowingdowntheireyes.Somepeoplecameforward,bearingrosepetalsinbaskets.Theyflungthemintheair.Showeringroses

ontheirGoddess,Sita.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiKurmaayanamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLordKurmaOnewoman rushed in,holdingher infant son inher arms.Shebrought thebabyclose to thehorse’s

stirrupsandtouchedthechild’sforeheadtoSita’sfoot.AconfusedandtroubledSitatriedherbesttonotshrinkback.Thecompany,ledbySita,keptridinguptheroad,towardsthesummitofthemonolith.Thedrumbeats,theveenas,thechantingcontinued…ceaselessly.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasyaiVaaraahyainamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLadyVarahiAheadof them, somepeopleweredownon theirkneeswith theirheadsplacedon theground, their

handsspreadforward.Theirbodiesshookwiththeforceoftheiremotions.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiNarasimhaayanamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLordNarsimhaThegentlyupward-slopingcaveopenedontothetopofthemonolith.Therailingcontinuedtoskirtthe

massivesummit.PeoplefromthespiralcaveroadfollowedSitainaprocession.Thelargeareaatthetopofthemonolithwaswellorganisedwithgrid-likeroadsandmanylow-rise

buildings.Thestreetswereborderedwithdugoutsonbothsidesthatservedasflowerbeds,thesoilforwhichhadbeenpainstakinglytransportedfromthefertilevalleybelow.Atregularintervals,thedugoutsweredeep,fortheyheldtherootsoflargertrees.Itwasacarefullycultivatednaturalnessinthisaustere,rockyenvironment.At the centre of the summit lay twomassive temples, facing each other. Together, they formed the

ParshuRamEshwar temple complex. One temple, red in colour, was dedicated to the greatMahadev,LordRudra.Theother,inpristinewhite,wasthetempleofthesixthVishnu,LordParshuRam.The other buildings in the area were uniformly low-rise, none built taller than the temples of

ParshuRamEshwar.Someservedasofficesandothersashouses.MaharishiVishwamitra’shousewasattheedgeofthesummit,overlookingtheverdantvalleybelow.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiVaamanaayanamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLordVaamanThechantingcontinued.

Jatayuheldhisbreathashiseyesfellonagauntoldlady.Herflowingwhitehairletlooseinthewind,she sat on a platform in the distance.Her proud, ghostly eyeswere fixed on Sita.With her felicitousfingers,shepluckedatthestringsoftheRudraVeena.Annapoornadevi.Thelasttimeshehadbeenseenwas theday that shehadarrivedatAgastyakootam,manyyearsago.Shehadsteppedoutofherhome,today.ShewasplayingtheVeenainpublic,consciouslybreakingheroath.Aterribleoath,compelledbyahusbandshehadloved.Buttherewasgoodreasontobreaktheoathtoday.ItwasnoteverydaythatthegreatVishnucamehome.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasyaiMohinyainamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLadyMohiniSomepuristsbelievedthataMahadevandaVishnucouldnotexistsimultaneously.Thatatanygiven

time,eithertheMahadevexistswiththetribeofthepreviousVishnu,ortheVishnuexistswiththetribeofthepreviousMahadev.ForhowcouldtheneedforthedestructionofEvilcoincidewiththepropagationofGood?Therefore,somerefusedtobelievethatLadyMohiniwasaVishnu.Clearly,theMalayaputrassidedwiththemajoritythatbelievedthatthegreatLadyMohiniwasaVishnu.Thechantingcontinued.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasmaiParshuramaayanamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLordParshuRamSitapulledherhorse’sreinsandstoppedassheapproachedMaharishiVishwamitra.Unliketheothers,

hewaswearinghisangvastram.All theMalayaputras inAgastyakootamwere on top of themonolithnow.Sitadismounted,bentandtouchedVishwamitra’sfeetwithrespect.Shestoodupstraightandfoldedher

handstogetherintoaNamaste.Vishwamitraraisedhisrighthand.Themusic,thechanting,allmovementstoppedinstantly.Agentlebreezewaftedacrossthesummit.Thesoftsounditmadewasallthatcouldbeheard.Butif

onelistenedwiththesoul,perhapsthesoundoftenthousandheartsbeatingasonewouldalsohavebeenheard. And, if one possessed the power of the divine, one would have also heard the cry of anoverwhelmedwoman’sheart,asshesilentlycalledouttothebelovedmothershehadlost.AMalayaputrapanditwalkedup toVishwamitra, holding twobowls in his hands.One contained a

thick redviscous liquid;and, theother,anequalamountof thickwhite liquid.Vishwamitra dippedhisindexandringfingerintothewhiteliquidandthenthemiddlefingerintheredliquid.Thenheplacedhiswristonhischestandwhispered,‘BythegraceoftheMahadev,LordRudra,and

theVishnu,LordParshuRam.’Heplacedhisthreecolour-stainedfingerstogetherinbetweenSita’seyebrows,thenslidthemuptoher

hairline, spreading theouter fingers gradually apart as theymoved.A trident-shaped tilak emerged onSita’sforehead.Theouterarmsofthetilakwerewhite,whilethecentrallinewasred.Withaflickofhishand,Vishwamitrasignalledforthechantingtoresume.Tenthousandvoicesjoined

togetherinharmony.Thistime,though,thechantwasdifferent.OmNamoBhagavateVishnudevayaTasyaiSitadevyainamonamahSalutationstothegreatGodVishnuSalutations,SalutationstoLadySita

Chapter15

Lateintheevening,SitasatquietlyintheLordParshuRamtemple.Shehadbeenleftalone.Asshehadrequested.ThegrandParshuRamEshwar templegroundsspreadovernearlyonehundredand fiftyacreson the

summitofthegranitemonolith.Atthecentrewasaman-madesquare-shapedlake,itsbottomlinedwiththefamiliarreddish-violetriverweeds.Itremindedherofthethreeapparently‘blood-filled’streamsshehadseenatthehiddenlagoon.Theriverweedshadbeengraftedhere,sothattheycouldsurviveinthesestillwaters.The lake servedasa store forwater for theentirecitybuilt into this rock formation.Thewater was transported into the houses through pipes built parallel to the spiral pathway down thecurvilinearcavestructure.ThetwotemplesoftheParshuRamEshwarcomplexwereconstructedonoppositesidesof this lake.

OnewasdedicatedtoLordRudraandtheothertoLordParshuRam.TheLordRudratemple’sgraniteinnerstructurehadbeencoveredwithasinglelayerofredsandstone,

transported in ships fromagreatdistance. Ithada solidbase,almost tenmetres inheight, forming thepedestalonwhichthemaintemplestructurehadbeenbuilt.Theexteriorfaceofthebasewasintricatelycarvedwithfiguresofrishisandrishikas.Abroadstaircaseinthecentreledtoamassiveveranda.Themaintemplewassurroundedbydelicatelattice,madefromthinstripsofacopperalloy;itwasbrownincolour, rather than the natural reddish-orange of the metal. The lattice comprised tiny square-shapedopenings,eachofthemshapedintoametalliclampatitsbase.Withthousandsoftheselampsfestivelylit,itwasasifastar-litskyscreenedthemaintemple.Ethereal.Beyondthemetallicscreenholdingthousandsoflamps,wastheHallofHundredPillars.Eachpillar

was shaped to a near-perfect circular cross-section using elephant-powered lathes. These imposingpillarsheldthemaintemplespire,whichitselfshotupamassivefiftymetres.Thetoweringtemplespirewas carved on all sideswith figures of greatmen andwomen of the ancient past. People frommanygroups such as the Sangamtamils, Dwarkans, Manaskul, Adityas, Daityas, Vasus, Asuras, Devas,Rakshasas,Gandharvas,Yakshas,Suryavanshis,Chandravanshis,Nagasandmanymore.TheforefathersandforemothersofthisnobleVedicnationofIndia.AtthecentreoftheHallwasthesanctumsanctorum.Initwerelife-sizeidolsofLordRudraandthe

woman he had loved, Lady Mohini. Unlike their normal representations, these idols did not carryweapons. Their expressions were calm, gentle, and loving.Most fascinatingly, Lord Rudra and LadyMohiniheldhands.Ontheothersideofthesquarelake,facingtheLordRudratemple,wasthetemplededicatedtoLord

ParshuRam.Almost exactly similar to theLordRudra temple, therewas one conspicuous difference:LordParshuRam temple’sgranite inner structurewas layeredon topwithwhitemarble.The sanctumsanctoruminthemiddleoftheHallofHundredPillarshadlife-sizedidolsofthegreatsixthVishnuandhiswife,Dharani.And,theseidolswerearmed.LordParshuRamheldhisfearsomebattleaxeandLadyDharanisatwiththelongbowinherlefthandandasinglearrowintheother.HadSitapaidcloseattention,shemighthaverecognisedthemarkingsonthebowthatLadyDharani

held.Butshewaslostinherownthoughts.Leaningagainstapillar.StaringattheidolsofLordParshu

RamandLadyDharani.SherecalledthewordsofMaharishiVishwamitraashehadwelcomedhertoAgastyakootam,earlier

today.Thattheywouldwaitfornineyears.TillthestarsalignedwiththecalculationsoftheMalayaputraastrologers.Andthen,herVishnuhoodwouldbeannouncedtotheworld.Shehadbeentoldthatshehadtime till then to prepare. To train. To understandwhat shemust do.And that theMalayaputraswouldguideherthroughitall.Ofcourse,untilthatauspiciousmoment,itwasthesworndutyofeverysingleMalayaputratokeepher

identitysecret.Therisksweretoohigh.Shelookedback.Towardstheentrance.Nobodyhadenteredthetemple.Shehadbeenleftalone.ShelookedattheidolofLordParshuRam.Sheknew thatnoteveryMalayaputrawasconvincedofherpotentialas theVishnu.Butnonewould

dareopposetheformidableVishwamitra.WhyisGuruVishwamitrasosureaboutme?WhatdoesheknowthatIdon’t?

A month had passed since Sita had arrived in Agastyakootam. Vishwamitra and she had had manyextendedconversations.Some of these were purely educational; on science, astronomy and medicine. Others were subtle

lessonsdesignedtohelpherclearlydefine,question,confrontoraffirmherviewsonvarioustopicslikemasculinity and femininity, equality and hierarchy, justice and freedom, liberalism and order, besidesothers.Thedebateswere largelyenlightening forSita.But theoneson thecaste systemwere themostanimated.Bothteacherandstudentagreedthattheforminwhichthecastesystemcurrentlyexisted,deservedto

becompletelydestroyed.ThatitcorrodedthevitalsofIndia.Inthepast,one’scastewasdeterminedbyone’s attributes, qualities and deeds. It had been flexible. But over time, familial love distorted thefoundationsofthisconcept.Parentsbegantoensurethattheirchildrenremainedinthesamecasteasthem.Also, an arbitrary hierarchy was accorded to the castes, based on a group’s financial and politicalinfluence.Some castes became ‘higher’, others ‘lower’.Gradually, the caste systembecame rigid andbirth-based. Even Vishwamitra had faced many obstacles when, born a Kshatriya, he had decided tobecome a Brahmin; and, in fact, a rishi. This rigidity created divisions within society. Raavan hadexploitedthesedivisionstoeventuallydominatetheSaptSindhu.Butwhatcouldbe thesolutionfor this?TheMaharishibelievedthat itwasnotpossible tocreatea

societywhereallwerecompletelyandexactlyequal. Itmaybedesirable,butwould remainautopianidea, always. People differed in skills, both in degree and kind. So, their fields of activity andachievementsalsohadtodiffer.Periodiceffortsatimposingexactequalityhadinvariablyledtoviolenceandchaos.Vishwamitralaidemphasisonfreedom.Apersonmustbeenabledtounderstandhimselfandpursuehis

dreams.Inhisschemeofthings,ifachildwasborntoShudraparents,butwiththeskillsofaBrahmin,heshouldbeallowedtobecomeaBrahmin.IfthesonofaKshatriyafatherhadtradingskills,thenheshouldtraintobecomeaVaishya.Hebelievedthatratherthantryingtoforce-fitanartificialequality,onemustremovethecurseofbirth

determiningone’slifeprospects.Societieswouldalwayshavehierarchies.Theyexistedeveninnature.But they could be fluid.Therewould be timeswhenKshatriya soldiers comprised the elite, and then,therewouldbetimeswhenskilfulShudracreatorswouldbetheelite.Thedifferencesinsocietyshouldbedeterminedbymerit.That’sall.Notbirth.Toachievethis,Vishwamitraproposedthatfamiliesneededtoberestructured.Foritwasinheritance

thatworkedmoststronglyagainstmeritandfreemovementinsociety.Hesuggested thatchildrenmustcompulsorilybeadoptedby thestateat the timeofbirth.Thebirth-

parentswouldhavetosurrendertheirchildrentothekingdom.Thestatewouldfeed,educateandnurturethein-borntalentsofthesechildren.Then,attheageoffifteen,theywouldappearforanexaminationtotest themon their physical, psychological andmental abilities.Basedon the result, appropriate casteswouldbeallocatedtothem.Subsequenttrainingwouldfurtherpolishtheirnaturalskills.Eventually,theywould be adopted by citizens of the same caste as the one assigned to the adolescents through theexaminationprocess.Thechildrenwouldnotknowtheirbirth-parents,onlytheiradoptivecaste-parents.Thebirth-parents,too,wouldnotknowthefateoftheirbirth-children.Sitaagreedthatthiswouldbeafairsystem.Butshealsofeltthatitwasharshandunrealistic.Itwas

unimaginable to her that parents would willingly hand over their birth-children to the kingdom.Permanently.Orthattheywouldeverstoptryingtolearnwhathappenedtothem.Itwasunnatural.Infact,timesweresuchthat itwasimpossibletomakeIndiansfollowevenbasiclawsfor thegreatergood.Itwascompletelyfar-fetchedtothinkthattheywouldevermakesuchabigsacrificeinthelargerinterestofsociety.VishwamitraretortedthatitwastheVishnu’stasktoradicallytransformsociety.Toconvincesociety.

Sitaresponded thatperhaps theVishnuwouldneed tobeconvinced, first.Theguruassuredher thathewould.Helaidawagerthatovertime,Sitawouldbesoconvincedthatshewouldherselfchampionthis‘breathtakinglyfairandjustorganisationofsociety’.Astheyendedanotheroftheirdiscussionsonthecastesystem,Sitagotupandwalkedtowardstheend

of thegarden, thinking furtherabout it.Thegardenwasat theedgeof themonolith summit.She tookadeepbreath,tryingtothinkofsomemoreargumentsthatwouldchallengeherguru’sproposedsystem.Shelooked down at the valley, eight hundred and fifty metres below. Something about the Thamiravarunistartledher.Shestoppedthinking.Andstared.WhyhaveInotnoticedthisbefore?Theriverdidnotappeartoflowoutofthevalleyatall.Attheeasternendoftheegg-shapedvalley,the

Thamiravarunidisappearedunderground.WhatinLordRudra’sname…‘Theriverflowsintoacave,Sita.’Vishwamitrahadquietlywalkeduptohisstudent.

VishwamitraandSitastoodatthemouthofthenaturalcave,carvedverticallyintotherockface.Intrigued by the flow of the Thamiravaruni, Sita had wished to see the place where it magically

disappeared,attheeasternendofthevalley.Fromadistance,ithadseemedasiftheriverdroppedintoaholeintheground.But,asshedrewnear,shehadseenthenarrowopeningofthecave.Averticalcave.Itwasincrediblethatanentireriverenteredthesmallaperture.Thethunderousroaroftheriverwithinthecavesuggestedthattheshaftexpandedunderground.‘Butwheredoesallthiswatergo?’askedSita.A company ofMalayaputra soldiers stood behind Sita and Vishwamitra. Out of earshot. But close

enoughtomoveinquicklyifneeded.‘Therivercontinuestofloweast,’saidVishwamitra.‘ItdrainsintotheGulfofMannarwhichseparates

IndiafromLanka.’‘Buthowdoesitemergefromtheholeithasdugitselfinto?’‘Itburstsoutofthisundergroundcavernsometenkilometresdownstream.’Sita’seyeswidenedinsurprise.‘Isthiscavethatlong?’Vishwamitrasmiled.‘Come.I’llshowyou.’

VishwamitraledSitatotheedgeofthemouthofthecave.Shehesitated.Itwasonlyaroundtwenty-fivemetresacrossattheentrypoint.Thisforcedconstrictiondramaticallyincreasedthespeedoftheriver.Ittoreintotheundergroundcausewaywithunrealferocity.Vishwamitrapointedtoaflightofstairstotheleftsideofthecavemouth.Itwasobviouslyman-made.

Steps had been carved into the sloping side wall. A railing thoughtfully provided on the right side,preventingasteepfallintotherapids.Torrentsoffoamandsprayfromtherapidlydescendingriverdiminishedvision.Italsomadethestairs

dangerouslyslippery.Vishwamitrapulledhisangvastramoverhisheadtoshieldhimselffromwaterdropletsthatfellfrom

theceiling.Sitafollowedsuit.‘Becareful,’saidVishwamitra,asheapproachedthestaircase.‘Thestepsareslippery.’Sitanoddedandfollowedherguru.TheMalayaputrasoldiersstayedclosebehind.They wended their way in silence. Descending carefully. Deeper and deeper, into the cave. Sita

huddled into her angvastram. Daylight filtered through. But she expected pitch darkness as theydescendedfarther.Theinsistentsprayofwatermadeitimpossibletolightatorch.Sita had always been afraid of the dark. Added to which was this confined, slippery space. The

looming rock structure and the loud roar of the descending river combined altogether into a terrifyingexperience.Hermother’svoicecalledouttoher.Amemoryburieddeepinherpsyche.Don’tbeafraidofthedark,mychild.Lighthasasource.Itcanbesnuffedout.Butdarknesshasno

source.Itjustexists.ThisdarknessisapathtoThat,whichhasnosource:God.Wisewords.Butwordsthatdidn’treallyprovidemuchcomforttoSitaatthispoint.Coldfearslowly

tightened its grip on her heart. A childhood memory forced itself into her consciousness. Of beingconfinedinadarkbasement,thesoundsofratsscurryingabout,thefranticbeatofherheart.Barelyabletobreathe.Shepulledherawarenessintothepresent.AnoccasionalglimpseofVishwamitra’swhiterobedisturbed the void they had settled into. Suddenly, she saw him turn left. She followed.Her hand notlettinggooftherailing.Disorientedbysuddenblindinglight,hereyesgraduallyregisteredtheloomingfigureofVishwamitra

standing before her. He held aloft a torch. He handed it to her. She saw aMalayaputra soldier handanothertorchtoVishwamitra.Vishwamitrastartedwalkingaheadagain,continuing todescend.Thestepsweremuchbroadernow.

Thoughthesoundoftheriverreverberatedagainstthewallandechoedallaround.Tooloudforsuchasmallcave.ButSitacouldnotseemuchsincetherewereonlytwotorches.Soon,alltheMalayaputrasheldatorch

eachandlightfloodedintothespace.Sitaheldherbreath.BythegreatLordRudra!Thesmallcavehadopenedintoacavern.Anditwashuge.BiggerthananycaveSitahadeverseen.

Perhapssixhundredmetresinwidth.Thestepsdescendedfartherandfartherwhiletheceilingremainedat roughly the same height.When they reached the bottom of the cavern, the ceiling was a good twohundredmetresabove.Alargepalace,fitforaking,couldhavebeenbuiltinthissubterraneanspace.Andstill have room left over.TheThamiravaruni flowedon the right-hand side of this cavern, descendingrapidlywithgreatforce.‘Asyoucansee,theriverhaserodedthiscaveovertheages,’explainedVishwamitra.‘Itishuge,isn’t

it?’‘ThebiggestIhaveeverseen!’saidSitainwonder.Therewasamassivewhitehillontheleft.Thesecretbehindthewell-litinterior.Itreflectedlightfrom

thenumeroustorchesandspreadittoallthecornersofthecave.‘Iwonderwhatmaterialthathillismadeupof,Guruji,’saidSita.Vishwamitrasmiled.‘Alotofbatslivehere.’Sitalookedupinstinctively.‘Theyareallasleepnow,’saidVishwamitra.‘It’sdaytime.Theywillawakenatnight.Andthathillis

madefromthedroppingsofbillionsofbatsovermanymillennia.’Sitagrimaced.‘Yuck!’Vishwamitra’slaughterechoedinthevastness.ItwasthenthatSita’seyesfellonsomethingbehindVishwamitra.Manyropeladdershangingfromthe

walls;somanythatshegaveuptheattempttocountthem.Hammeredintoplaceontop,theyfellfromtheroof,allthewaytothefloor.Sitapointed.‘What’sthat,Guruji?’Vishwamitraturnedaround.‘Therearesomewhitesemicircularbirdnestsinthenooksandcranniesof

thesewalls.Thosenestsareprecious.Thematerialtheyaremadefromisprecious.Theseladdersallowustoaccessthem.’Sitawas surprised. ‘What could be so valuable about thematerial that a nest ismade from?These

laddersgoreallyhigh.Fallingfromthatheightmustmeaninstantdeath.’‘Indeed,somehavedied.Butitisaworthysacrifice.’Sitafrowned.‘WeneedsomeholdoverRaavan.Thematerialinthosenestsgivesusthatcontrol.’Sitafroze.Thethoughtthathadbeentroublingherforsometimemadeitsreappearance:What is the

relationshipbetweentheMalayaputrasandtheLankans?‘Iwill explain it toyou, someday,’ saidVishwamitra, readingher thoughtsasusual. ‘Fornow,have

faithinme.’Sitaremainedsilent.Butherfaceshowedthatshewastroubled.‘Thislandofours,’continuedVishwamitra,‘issacred.BoundbytheHimalayasinthenorth,washedby

theIndianOceanatitsfeetandtheWesternandEasternSeasat itsarms,thesoil inthisgreatnationishallowed.All thoseborn in this landcarry the sacredearthofMother India in theirbody.Thisnationcannotbeallowedtoremaininthiswretchedstate.Itisaninsulttoournobleancestors.WemustmakeIndiagreatagain.Iwilldoanything,anything, tomakethis landworthyofourgreatancestors.And,soshalltheVishnu.’

Sita,Jatayu,andacompanyofMalayaputrasoldiersweresailingbackupthewesterncoasttowardstheSapt Sindhu. Sita was returning to Mithila. She had spent more than five months in Agastyakootam,educating herself on the principles of governance, philosophies, warfare and personal history of theearlierVishnus.Shehadalsoacquiredadvancedtraininginothersubjects.Thiswas inpreparationforherVishnuhood.Vishwamitrahadbeenpersonallyinvolvedinhertraining.Jatayuandshesatonthemaindeck,sippingahotcupofgingerkadha.SitasethercupdownandlookedattheMalayaputra.‘Jatayuji,Ihopeyouwillanswermyquestion.’JatayuturnedtowardsSitaandbowedhishead.‘HowcanIrefuse,greatVishnu?’‘WhatistherelationshipbetweentheMalayaputrasandtheLankans?’‘Wetradewiththem.AsdoeseverykingdomintheSaptSindhu.Weexportaveryvaluablematerial

minedinthecavernofThamiravarunitoLanka.Andtheygiveuswhatweneed.’‘I’mawareof that.ButRaavanusuallyappoints sub-traderswhoaregiven the licence to tradewith

Lanka.Nooneelsecanconductanybusinesswithhim.Butthereisnosuchsub-traderinAgastyakootam.

Youtradedirectlywithhim.Thisisstrange.IalsoknowthathestrictlycontrolstheWesternandEasternSeas.Andthatnoshipcansetsailinthesewaterswithoutpayinghimacess.Thisishowhemaintainsastrangleholdovertrade.ButMalayaputrashipspaynothingandyet,passunharmed.Why?’‘LikeIsaid,wesellhimsomethingveryvaluable,greatVishnu.’‘Do youmean the bird’s nestmaterial?’ asked Sita, incredulously. ‘I am sure he getsmany equally

valuablethingsfromotherpartsoftheSaptSindhu…’‘Thismaterialisvery,veryvaluable.FarmorethananythinghegetsfromtheSaptSindhu.’‘Thenwhydoesn’thejustattackAgastyakootamandseizeit?It’snotfarfromhiskingdom.’Jatayuremainedsilent,unsureofhowmuchtoreveal.‘Ihavealsoheard,’continuedSita,choosingherwordscarefully, ‘that,apparently, there isashared

heritage.’‘Thattheremaybe.ButeveryMalayaputra’sprimaryloyaltyistoyou,LadyVishnu.’‘Idon’tdoubtthat.Buttellme,whatisthiscommonheritage?’Jatayu tookadeepbreath.Hehadmanaged tosidestep thefirstquestion,but itseemedhewouldbe

unabletoavoidthisone.‘MaharishiVishwamitrawasaprincebeforehebecameaBrahminRishi.’‘Iknowthat.’‘Hisfather,KingGaadhi,ruledthekingdomofKannauj.GuruVishwamitrahimselfwasthekingthere

forashortspanoftime.’‘Yes,soIhaveheard.’‘ThenhedecidedtorenouncehisthroneandbecomeaBrahmin.Itwasn’taneasydecision,butnothing

isbeyondourgreatGuruji.NotonlydidhebecomeaBrahmin,healsoacquiredthetitleofMaharishi.And,hescaledgreatheightstoreachthepeakbyultimatelybecomingthechiefoftheMalayaputras.’Sitanodded.‘NothingisbeyondGuruVishwamitra.Heisoneoftheall-timegreats.’‘True,’saidJatayu.Hesitantly,hecontinued.‘So,GuruVishwamitra’srootsareinKannauj.’‘ButwhatdoesthathavetodowithRaavan?’Jatayusighed.‘Mostpeopledon’tknowthis.Itisawell-keptsecret,mysister.ButRaavanisalsofrom

Kannauj.Hisfamilycomesfromthere.’

Chapter16

At twentyyearsofage,Sitamayhavehad theenergyanddriveofayoungster,buther travels throughmuchofIndiaandthetrainingshehadreceivedatAgastyakootam,hadgivenherwisdomfarbeyondheryears.SamichiwasinitiallyintriguedbySita’srepeatedtripsaroundthecountry.Shewastoldthattheywere

for tradeanddiplomaticpurposes.And,shebelieved it.Or,pretended to.AsshepracticallygovernedMithilawithafreehandintheabsenceoftheprincess.ButSitawasnowbackinMithilaandthereinsofadministrationwerebackinthehandsoftheprimeminister.RadhikawasononeofherfrequentvisitstoMithila.‘Howareyoudoing,Samichi?’askedRadhika.Sita,RadhikaandSamichiwereintheprivatechambersoftheprimeministerofMithila.‘Doingverywell!’smiledSamichi.‘Thankyouforasking.’‘Ilovewhatyouhavedonewiththeslumsatthesoutherngate.Acesspoolhastransformedintoawell-

organised,permanentconstruction.’‘Itwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithouttheguidanceoftheprimeminister,’saidSamichiwithgenuine

humility.‘Theideaandvisionwerehers.Ijustimplementedit.’‘Notprimeminister.Sita.’‘Sorry?’‘Ihavetoldyoumanytimes,’saidSita,‘whenwearealone,youcancallmebymyname.’SamichilookedatRadhikaandthenatSita.Sitarolledhereyes.‘Radhikaisafriend,Samichi!’Samichismiled.‘Sorry.Nooffencemeant.’‘None taken, Samichi!’ said Radhika. ‘You are my friend’s right hand. How can I take offence at

somethingyousay?’Samichirosetoherfeet.‘Ifyouwillexcuseme,Sita,Imustgototheinnercity.Thereisagatheringof

thenoblesthatIneedtoattend.’‘Ihaveheard,’saidSita,gesturingforSamichitowait,‘thatthericharenottoohappy.’‘Yes,’ saidSamichi. ‘Theyare richer than theyused tobe, sinceMithila isdoingwellnow.But the

poorhaveimprovedtheirlotinlifeatafasterpace.Itisnolongereasyfortherichtofindcheaplabourordomestichelp.Butit’snotjusttherichwhoareunhappy.Ironically,eventhepooraren’tashappyasthey used to be, before their lives improved.They complain evenmore now.Theywant to get richer,morequickly.Withgreaterexpectations,theyhavediscoveredhigherdissatisfaction.’‘Changecausesdisruption…’Sitasaid,thoughtfully.‘Yes.’‘Keepmeinformedoftheearlysignsofanytrouble.’‘Yes,Sita,’saidSamichi,beforesalutingandwalkingoutoftheroom.Assoonas theywerealone,SitaaskedRadhika, ‘Andwhatelsehasbeenhappeningwith theother

Vishnucandidates?’‘Ramisprogressingverywell.Bharatisalittleheadstrong.It’sstillatoss-up!’

ItwaslateintheeveningatthegurukulofMaharishiKashyap.Five friends,allof themeightyearsold,wereplayingagamewitheachother.Agamesuitableforthebrilliantstudentswhopopulatedthisgreatcentreoflearning.Anintellectualgame.Oneofthestudentswasaskingquestionsandtheothershadtoanswer.Thequestionerhadastone

inhishand.Hetappeditonthegroundonce.Thenhepaused.Thenhetappedonceagain.Pause.Thentwotimes,quickly.Pause.Threetimes.Pause.Fivetimes.Pause.Eighttimes.Pause.Helookedathisfriendsandasked,‘WhoamI?’Hisfriendslookedateachother,confused.Aseven-year-oldboysteppedupgingerlyfromtheback.Hewasdressedinragsandclearlylooked

out of place. ‘I think the stone taps represented 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, right? That’s the Pingala Series.Therefore,IamRishiPingala.’Thefriendslookedattheboy.Hewasanorphanwholivedintheminusculeguardcabinofthelocal

MotherGoddesstemple.Theboywasweak,sufferingfrommalnutritionandpoorhealth.Buthewasbrilliant.AgurukulstudentnamedVishwamitrahadmanaged toconvince theprincipal toenrol thispoororphanintheschool.Vishwamitrahadleveragedthepowerof themassiveendowmentthathisfather,theKingofKannauj,hadgiventothegurukul,togetthisdone.Theboysturnedawayfromtheorphan,eventhoughhisanswerwascorrect.‘We’re not interested in what you say, Vashishtha,’ sneered the boywho had asked the question.

‘Whydon’tyougoandcleantheguard’scabin?’As the boys burst out laughing, Vashishtha’s body shrank in shame. But he stood his ground.

Refusingtoleave.Thequestionerturnedtohisfriendsagainandtappedtheearthonce.Thendrewacirclearoundthe

spot he had tapped. Then he drew the circle’s diameter. Then, outside the circle, he tapped sharplyonce.Then,heplaced the stone flaton theground.Pause.Thenhe tapped the stone sharplyagain.Quickly.Eighttimes.‘WhoamI?’Vashishtha immediately blurted out, ‘I know! You tapped the ground and drew a circle. That’s

Mother Earth. Then you drew the diameter. Then you tapped 1-0-8 outside.What is 108 times thediameteroftheEarth?ThediameteroftheSun.IamtheSunGod!’ThefriendsdidnoteventurntolookatVashishtha.Nobodyacknowledgedhisanswer.ButVashishtharefusedtobedenied.‘It’sfromtheSuryaSiddhanta…It’sthecorrectanswer…’Thequestionerturnedtofacehiminanger.‘Getlost,Vashishtha!’Aloudvoicewasheard.‘Hey!’It was Vishwamitra.Hemay have been only eight years old, but hewas already huge. Powerful

enoughtoscarethefiveboys.‘Kaushik…’said theboyquestionernervously,usingthegurukulnameforVishwamitra, ‘thishas

nothingtodowithyou…’VishwamitrawalkeduptoVashishthaandheldhishand.Then,heturnedtothefiveboys.Glaring.

‘Heisastudentofthegurukulnow.Youwillcallhimbyhisgurukulname.Withrespect.’Thequestionerswallowed.Shakinginfear.‘HisgurukulnameisDivodas,’saidVishwamitra,holdingVashishtha’shandtighter.Divodaswasthe

nameofagreatancientking.ItwasVishwamitrawhohadselectedthisgurukulnameforVashishthaandthenconvincedtheprincipaltomakeitofficial.‘Sayit.’Thefivefriendsremainedparalysed.Vishwamitra stepped closer, menace oozing from every pore of his body. He had already built a

reputationwithhisfiercetemper.‘Saymyfriend’sgurukulname.Sayit.Divodas.’

Thequestionersputtered,ashewhispered,‘Divo…das.’‘Louder.Withrespect.Divodas.’Allfiveboysspoketogether,‘Divodas.’VishwamitrapulledVashishthatowardshimself.‘Divodasismyfriend.Youmesswithhim,youmess

withme.’‘Guruji!’Vashishtha was pulled back from the ancient, more than a hundred-and-forty-year-old memory. He

quicklywipedhiseyes.Tearsaremeanttobehidden.HeturnedtolookatShatrughan,whowasholdingupamanuscriptoftheSuryaSiddhanta.Ofallthebooksintheentireworld…Whataretheodds?Vashishthawould have smiled at the irony. But he knew itwas going to be a long discussion. The

youngest prince ofAyodhyawas by far themost intelligent of the four brothers. So, he lookedwith aseriousexpressionatShatrughanandsaid,‘Yes,mychild.Whatisyourquestion?’

SitaandRadhikaweremeetingafteratwo-yeargap.Overthistime,SitahadtravelledthroughthewesternpartsofIndia,allthewaytoGandhar,atthebase

oftheHindukushmountains.WhileIndia’sculturalfootprintscouldbefoundbeyondthesemountains,itwasbelievedthattheHindukush,peopledbytheHindushahiPashtunsandthebraveBaloch,definedthewesternbordersofIndia.BeyondthatwasthelandoftheMlechchas,theforeigners.‘WhatdidyouthinkofthelandsofAnu?’askedRadhika.Kekaya,ruledbyAshwapati,headedthekingdomsoftheAnunnaki,descendantsoftheancientwarrior-

king, Anu. Many of the kingdoms around Kekaya, bound by Anunnaki clan ties, pledged fealty toAshwapati.AndAshwapati,inturn,wasloyaltoDashrath.Or,atleastsoitwaspubliclybelieved.Afterall,Ashwapati’sdaughter,Kaikeyi,wasDashrath’sfavouritewife.‘Aggressivepeople,’ saidSita. ‘TheAnunnakidon’tdoanythingbyhalfmeasures.Their fire,put to

gooduse,canhelpthegreatlandofIndiaachievenewheights.But,whenuncontrolled,itcanalsoleadtochaos.’‘Agreed,’saidRadhika.‘Isn’tRajagrihabeautiful?’Rajagriha,thecapitalofKekaya,wasonthebanksoftheriverJhelum,notfarfromwheretheChenab

Rivermergedintoit.Rajagrihaextendedonbothsidesoftheriver.ThemassiveandethereallybeautifulpalaceofitskingwasontheeasternbankoftheJhelum.‘Itis,indeed,’saidSita.‘Theyaretalentedbuilders.’‘And,fiercewarriors.Quitemad,too!’Radhikagiggled.Sitalaughedloudly.‘True…Thereisathindividinglinebetweenfiercenessandinsanity!’SitanotedthatRadhikaseemedhappierthanusual.‘TellmeabouttheprincesofAyodhya.’‘Ramisdoingwell.MyfatherisquitecertainthatGuruVashishthawillchoosehim.’‘AndBharat?’Radhikablushedslightly.And,Sita’ssuspicionswereconfirmed.‘He’sgrowingupwelltoo,’whisperedRadhika,adreamylookonherface.‘Thatwell?’jokedSita.Hercrimsonfaceagiveaway,Radhikaslappedherfriendonherwrists.‘Shutup!’Sitalaughedindelight.‘BythegreatLadyMohini,Radhikaisinlove!’RadhikaglaredatSita,butdidnotrefuteherfriend.‘Butwhataboutthelaw…’Radhika’stribewasmatrilineal.Womenwerestrictlyforbiddenfrommarryingoutsidethetribe.Men

couldmarryoutsidetheirtribeonconditionthattheywouldbeexcommunicated.Radhikawavedherhandindismissal.‘Allthatisinthefuture.Rightnow,letmeenjoythecompanyof

Bharat,oneofthemostromanticandpassionateyoungmenthatnaturehaseverproduced.’Sitasmiled,thenchangedthesubject.‘WhataboutRam?’‘Verystoic.Very,veryserious.’‘Serious,isit?’‘Yes.Seriousandpurposeful.Relentlesslypurposeful.Almostall the time.Hehasa strongsenseof

commitmentandhonour.Hardonothersandonhimself.Fiercelypatriotic.InlovewitheverycornerofIndia.Law-abiding.Always!Andnotoneromanticboneinhisbody.Iamnotsurehewillmakeagoodhusband.’Sita leaned back in her couch and rested her arms on the cushions. She narrowed her eyes and

whisperedtoherself.ButhewillprobablymakeagoodVishnu.

Ayearhadlapsedsincethefriendshadlastmet.Herworkhavingkeptherbusy,SitahadnottravelledoutofMithila.Shewasdelighted,therefore,whenRadhikareturned,unannounced.Sitaembracedherwarmly.Butpulledbackasshenoticedherfriend’seyes.‘What’swrong?’‘Nothing,’saidRadhika,shakingherhead.Withdrawn.Sitaimmediatelyguessedwhatmusthavehappened.Sheheldherfriend’shands.‘Didheleaveyou?’Radhika frowned and shookher head. ‘Of course not.Youdon’t knowBharat.He is an honourable

man.Infact,hebeggedmenottoleavehim.’Shelefthim?!‘InthenameofLadyMohini,why?Forgetaboutyourtribe’ssillylaw.Ifyouwanthimthenyouhaveto

fightforhim…’‘No.It’snotaboutthelaws…Iwouldhaveleftthetribeif…ifIhadwantedtomarryhim.’‘Then,whatistheproblem?’askedSita.‘Itwouldn’thaveworkedout…Iknow.Idon’twant tobeapartof this“greatnessproject”,Sita.I

knowRam,Bharat,andyouwilldoalotforIndia.Ialsoknowthatgreatnessusuallycomesatthecostofenormouspersonalsuffering.Thatisthewayithasalwaysbeen.Thatisthewayitwillalwaysbe.Idon’twantthat.Ijustwantasimplelife.Ijustwanttobehappy.Idon’twanttobegreat.’‘Youarebeingtoopessimistic,Radhika.’‘No,Iamnot.Youcancallmeselfishbut…’Sitacutin,‘Iwouldnevercallyouselfish.Realistic,maybe.Butnotselfish.’‘Thenspeakingrealistically,IknowwhatIamupagainst.Ihaveobservedmyfatherallmylife.There

isafirewithinhim.Iseeitinhiseyes,allthetime.Iseethesamefireinyou.AndinRam.AdesiretoserveMotherIndia.Ididn’texpectitinitially,butnowIseethesamefireinBharat’seyes.Youareallthesame.EvenBharat.Andjustlikeallofyou,heiswillingtosacrificeeverythingforIndia.Idon’twanttosacrificeanything.Ijustwanttobehappy.Ijustwanttobenormal…’‘Butcanyoubehappywithouthim?’Radhika’ssadsmiledidnothideherpain.‘ItwouldbeevenworseifImarriedhimandallmyhopes

forhappinesswere tied tonagginghim togiveuphisdreams for India and forhimself. I’d eventuallymakehimunhappy.I’dmakemyselfunhappyaswell.’‘But…’‘Ithurtsrightnow.Buttimealwaysheals,Sita.Yearsfromnow,whatwillremainarethebittersweet

memories.Moresweet, lessbitter.Noonecan takeaway thememoriesofpassionandromance.Ever.

That’llbeenough.’‘You’vereallythoughtthisthrough?’‘Happinessisnotanaccident.Itisachoice.Itisinourhandstobehappy.Alwaysinourhands.Who

saysthatwecanhaveonlyonesoulmate?Sometimes,soulmateswantsuchradicallydifferentthingsthattheyendupbeingthecauseofunhappinessforeachother.SomedayIwillfindanothersoulmate,onewhoalsowantswhatIwant.HemaynotbeasfascinatingasBharat.Or,evenasgreatasBharatwillbe.ButhewillbringmewhatIwant.Simplehappiness.Iwillfindsuchaman.Inmytribe.Or,outsideofit.’Sitagentlyplacedahandonherfriend’sshoulder.Radhikatookadeepbreathandshookherhead.Snappingoutofherblues.ShehadbeensenttoMithila

withapurpose.‘Bytheway,GuruVashishthahasmadehisdecision.SohavetheVayuputras.’‘And?’‘It’sRam.’Sitatookalong,satisfiedbreath.Then,shesmiled.

Another year passed by. Sitawas twenty-four years old now. She had visited the entire length of thewesterncoastofIndia,thepreviousyear.FromthebeachesofBalochistanallthewaydowntoKerala,which cradled Agastyakootam. She was finally back inMithila, engaged in mounds of pending royalduties.Whatever little time she could spare, she spentwith her younger sister,Urmila, andher father,Janak.KushadhwajhadnotvisitedMithila forawhile.Hewasn’t inSankashyaeither.Whichwasstrange.

Sitahadtriedtomakeinquiriesabouthiswhereabouts,buthadnotbeensuccessfulsofar.Whatshedidknow was that the Sankashya administration had lost much of its efficiency after Sulochan’s death,universallybelievedtobetheresultofanunfortunateheartattack.SitawasusedtoRadhika’sunexpectedvisits,bynow.Hence,shewasdelightedtoreceiveherfriend,

whomshewasmeetingafterafewmonths.‘Howarethingsinyourvillage,nowthattheexcitementofhostingtheprincesofAyodhyaisgone?’Radhikalaughed.‘It’sallright…’‘Areyouallright?’‘I’mgettingthere…’‘AndhowisRamdoinginAyodhya?’‘Hehasbeenmadethechiefofpolice.AndBharatthechiefofdiplomaticrelations.’‘Hmm…SoQueenKaikeyistillhashergriponAyodhya.Bharatisbetterplacedtocatapultintothe

roleofCrownPrince.Thechiefofpoliceisatoughandthanklessjob.’‘Soitwouldseem.ButRamisdoingexceedinglywell.Hehasmanagedtobringcrimeundervisible

control.Thishasmadehimpopularamongthepeople.’‘Howdidhemanagethatmiracle?’‘Hejustfollowedthelaws.Ha!’Sita laughed,befuddled. ‘HowdoesRamabidingby the lawmakeanydifference?Thepeople also

havetofollowit.And,Indianswillneverdothat.Infact,Ithinkweenjoybreakingrules.Pointlessly.Fortheheckof it.OnemustbepragmaticwhendealingwithIndians.Lawsmustbeenforced,yes.But thiscannotbeanendinitself.Youmaysometimesneedtoevenmisusethelawtoachievewhatyouwant.’‘Idisagree.Ramhasshownanewway.Bysimplyensuringthathe,too,isaccountableandsubjectto

the law.Noshortcutsareavailable to theAyodhyannobilityanymore.Thishaselectrified thecommonfolk.Ifthelawisaboveevenaprince,thenwhynotthem?’Sitaleanedintoherchair.‘Interesting…’

‘Bytheway,’askedRadhika,‘whereisGuruVishwamitra?’Sitahesitated.‘I am only checking because we believe Guru Vashishtha has gone to Pariha to propose Ram’s

candidatureastheVishnu.’Sitawasshocked.‘GuruVishwamitraisinParihaaswell.’Radhikasighed.‘Thingswillsooncometoahead.YoubetterhaveaplaninmindtoconvinceGuru

VishwamitraaboutRamandyoupartneringastheVishnus.’Sitatookadeepbreath.‘AnyideawhattheVayuputraswilldo?’‘Ihavetoldyoualready.TheyleantowardsGuruVashishtha.Theonlyquestioniswhether theywill

giveintoGuruVishwamitra.Afterall,heis thechiefoftheMalayaputrasandtherepresentativeofthepreviousVishnu.’‘IwillspeakwithHanubhaiya.’

Chapter17

‘But,Didi,’poutedUrmila,keepinghervoicelowasshespoketohereldersister,Sita,‘whyhaveyouagreedtoaswayamvar?Idon’twantyoutoleave.WhatwillIdowithoutyou?’UrmilaandSitasatonalarge,well-camouflagedwoodenmachaninatree.Theirfeetdangledbythe

side. Sita’s bow lay within hand’s reach, next to a quiver full of arrows. The jungle was quiet andsomnolentthishotafternoon.Mostoftheanimals,itseemed,weretakinganap.Sita smiled and pulledUrmila close. ‘I have to getmarried sometime,Urmila. If this iswhatbaba

wants,thenIhavenochoicebuttohonourit.’Urmila did not know that itwasSitawhohad convinced her father to arrange the swayamvar. The

swayamvarwasanancient traditionwhere the fatherof thebrideorganisedagatheringofprospectivebridegrooms; and the daughter selected her husband from among the gathered men. Or mandated acompetition.Sitawasactivelymanagingthearrangements.ShehadconvincedVishwamitratosomehowgetRam toMithila for theswayamvar.Anofficial invitation fromMithila toAyodhyawouldnothavegottenaresponse.Afterall,whywouldAyodhyaallywithasmallandrelativelyinconsequentialkingdomlikeMithila? But there was no way that Ayodhya would say no to the powerfulMalayaputra chief’srequest just to attend the swayamvar. And, at the swayamvar itself, managed by her Guru, the greatMalayaputraVishwamitra,shecouldarrangetohaveRamasherhusband.Vishwamitrahadalsolikedtheidea. Thisway, hewould displaceVashishtha and gain direct influence overRam.Of course, hewasunawarethatSitahadotherplans.PlanstoworkwithRaminpartnershipastheVishnu.GodblessHanubhaiya!Whatafantasticidea.UrmilarestedherheadonSita’sshoulder.Althoughayoungwomannow,hershelteredupbringinghad

keptherdependentonhereldersister.Shecouldnotimaginelifewithouthernurturerandprotector.‘But…’SitaheldUrmilatight.‘Youtoowillbemarried.Soon.’Urmilablushedandturnedaway.Sitaheardafaintsound.Shelookeddeepintotheforest.Sita,Samichi,andatroopoftwentypolicemenhadcometothisjungle,aday’sridefromMithila,to

kill aman-eating tiger thatwas tormentingvillagers in the area.Urmila had insistedon accompanyingSita.Fivemachanshadbeenbuiltinaforestclearing.EachmachanwasmannedbyMithilapolicemen.Thebait,agoat,hadbeentiedintheopen.Keepingtheweatherinmind,asmallwaterholehadalsobeendug,linedwithwaterproofingbitumen.Ifnotthemeat,perhapsthewaterwouldenticethetiger.‘Listen,Didi,’whisperedUrmila,‘Iwasthinking…’UrmilafellsilentasSitaraisedafingertoherlips.Then,Sitaturnedaround.Twopolicemensatatthe

otherendofthemachan.Usinghandsignals,shegavequickorders.Silently,theycrawleduptoherside.Urmilamovedtotheback.Sitapickedupherbowandnoiselesslydrewanarrowfromthequiver.‘Didyouseesomething,MyLady?’whisperedapoliceman.Sitashookherheadtosignalno.Andthen,cuppedherearwithherlefthand.Thepolicemenstrainedtheirearsbutcouldnothearanything.Oneof themspokeinafaintvoice, ‘I

don’thearanysound.’

Sitanockedthearrowonthebowstringandwhispered,‘It’stheabsenceofsound.Thegoathasstoppedbleating.Itisscaredstiff.Ibetit’snotanordinarypredatorthatthegoathassniffed.’Thepolicemendrewtheirbowsforwardandnockedarrows.Quicklyandquietly.Sitathoughtshecaughtafleetingglimpseofstripesfrombehindthefoliage.Shetookalong,hardlook.

Slowly, she began to discern alternating brownish-orange and black stripes in the dark, shaded areabehindthetreeline.Shefocusedhereyes.Thestripesmoved.Sitapointedtowardsthemovement.Thepolicemannoticeditaswell.‘It’swell-camouflaged…’Sitaraisedherhands,signallingforquiet.Sheheldthebowstringandpulledfaintly,readytoshootat

thefirstopportunity.After a few excruciatingly long moments, the tiger stepped into view, inching slowly towards the

waterhole.Itsawthegoat,growledsoftlyandturneditsattentionbacktothewater.Thegoatcollapsedonthegroundinabsoluteterror,urineescapingitsbladderinarush.Itcloseditseyesandsurrendereditselftofate.Thetiger,though,didnotseeminterestedinthepetrifiedbait.Itkeptlappingupthewater.Sitapulledthebowstringback,completely.Suddenly,therewasaverysoftsoundfromoneofthemachanstotheright.Thetigerlookedup,instantlyalert.Sita cursed under her breath.The anglewasn’t right.But she knew the tigerwould turn and flee in

moments.Shereleasedthearrow.It whizzed through the clearing and slammed into the beast’s shoulder. Enough to enrage, but not

disable.The tiger roared in fury. But its roarwas cut short just as suddenly.An arrow shot into itsmouth,

lodgingdeepintheanimal’sthroat.Withinsplitseconds,eighteenarrowsslammedintothebigcat.Somehit an eye, others the abdomen. Threemissiles thumped into its rearbicep femoris muscles, severingthem. Its rear legs debilitated, the tiger collapsed to the ground. TheMithilans quickly reloaded theirbowsandshotagain.Twentymorearrowspiercedtheseverelyinjuredbeast.Thetigerraiseditsheadonelasttime.Sitafelttheanimalwasstaringdirectlyatherwithoneuninjuredeye.Myapologies,noblebeast.Butitwaseitheryouorthevillagersundermyprotection.Thetiger’sheaddropped.Nevertoriseagain.Mayyoursoulfindpurpose,onceagain.

Sita,Urmila,andSamichirodeattheheadofthegroup.Thepolicemenrodeashortdistancebehind.Thepartywasheadedbacktothecapitalcity.Thetigerhadbeencrematedwithduerespect.Sitahadmadeitcleartoallthatshedidnotintendto

keeptheskinoftheanimal.Shewasawarethattheopportunitytoacquirethetigerskin,amarkofabravehunter,wouldhavemadeherpolicemencarefulwith their arrows.Theywouldnothave liked thepeltdamaged.Thatmayhaveledtothetigermerelybeinginjuredratherthankilled.Sita’sobjectivewasclear.Shewantedtosavethevillagersfromthetigerattacks.Aninjuredanimal

wouldhaveonlybecomemoredangerous forhumans.Sitahad toensure thatallherpolicemenshot tokill.So,shehadmadeitcleartoallthatthetigerwouldbecremated.‘Iunderstandwhyyougavethatorder,PrimeMinister,’saidSamichi,‘butit’ssadthatwecannottake

thetigerskinhome.Itwouldhavebeenagreattrophy,displayingyourskillandbravery.’SitalookedatSamichi,thenturnedtohersister.‘Urmila,fallbackplease.’Urmilaimmediatelypulledthereinsofherhorseandfellbehindtheothertwo,outofearshot.SamichipulledherhorseclosetoSita’s.‘Ihadtosaythat,Sita.ItwillencourageUrmilatobragabout

yourbraveryand…’Sita shook her head and interrupted Samichi. ‘Propaganda andmyth-making are part and parcel of

ruling.Iunderstandthat.Butdonotspreadstoriesthatwillgetdebunkedeasily.Ididnotexhibitanyskillorbraveryinthathunt.’‘But…’‘Myshotwasnotgood.Everyonepresentknowsthat.’‘But,Sita…’‘Everysingleoneknowsthat,’repeatedSita.‘Earliertoo,yougavemeallthecreditforthehunt.Near

thepolicemen.’‘Butyoudeservedthe…’‘No,Ididnot.’‘But…’‘You believe you did me a service. No, Samichi, you did not. I lost respect among those men by

receivinganundeservedcompliment.’‘But…’‘Don’tletyourloyaltytomeblindyou.Thatistheworstthingyoucandotome.’Samichistoppedarguing.‘I’msorry.’Sitasmiled.‘It’sallright.’Thensheturnedtoheryoungersisterandbeckonedher.Thethreeofthem

rodeon,insilence.

Sitahadreturnedfromthehuntjustafewdaysearlier.Preparationsforherswayamvarhadbeguninfullswing. She personally supervisedmost of thework, ably assisted by Samichi and her younger sister,Urmila.Sitasatinherchamberperusingsomedocuments,whenamessengerwasannounced.‘Bringhimin.’Twoguardsmarched inwith themessenger in tow.Sherecognised theman.HewasfromRadhika’s

tribe.Salutingsmartly,themessengerhandedherarolledparchment.Sitaexaminedtheseal.Itwasunbroken.Shedismissedthemessenger,brokethesealandreadRadhika’smessage.Herangerroseevenbeforeshereachedthelastword.Buteveninherrage,shedidnotforgetwhatshe

mustdo.Sheheldtheparchmenttoaflametilleveryinchofitwasreducedtoashes.Taskdone,shewalkeduptothebalconytocoolhermind.Ram…Don’tfallintoGuruji’strap.

MithilawasafewweeksawayfromSita’sswayamvar.Sita’sspiritshadbeenupliftedbythenewsthatVishwamitrawasonhiswaytoMithila.Alongwiththe

MalayaputrasandtheprincesofAyodhya.Hermindhadbeenfeverishlycontemplatingplausibleexcusestocanceltheswayamvar.IntheabsenceofRam,itwouldhavebeenapointlessexercise.‘Sita,’saidSamichi,salutingassheenteredtheprincess’chamber.Sitaturned.‘Yes,Samichi?’‘Ihavesometroublingnews.’‘What’shappened?’‘Ihaveheard thatyouruncleKushadhwajhasbeen invited to the swayamvar. In fact, he is inviting

someofhisfriendsaswell.He’sbehavinglikeajointhost.’Sitasighed.SheshouldhaveguessedthatherfatherwouldinviteKushadhwaj.Suchmisplacedgenerosity.Ontheotherhand,KushadhwajhadnotvisitedMithilainyears.Perhaps,hehadmadehispeacewith

hisreducedcircumstances.‘Iamhisniece,afterall,’saidSita,shrugginghershoulders.‘Chachamaywanttodemonstratetothe

SaptSindhuroyaltythatheretainssomeinfluenceinhiselderbrother’shouseholdandkingdom.Lethimcome.’Samichismiled.‘Aslongastheoneyouwantalsocomes,right?’‘Ramiscoming…Heiscoming…’Samichibrokeintoararesmile.ThoughshedidnotunderstandwhySitahadsuddenlydevelopedan

interest inRam,and inallyingwithAyodhya, she supportedherprincesswholeheartedly.AllyingwithAyodhya,eveninitsweakenedstate,wouldonlybenefitMithilainthelongrun.And,onceSitaleftforAyodhya,Samichiexpectedtobecomeevenmorepowerful.Perhaps,evenruleMithilaforallpracticalpurposes.Afterall,whoelsewasthere?

Chapter18

AnervousSamichistoodinthesmallclearing.Theominoussoundsofthejungleaddedtothedreadofadark,moonlessnight.Memoriesfromthepastcrashedintothepresent.Ithadbeensolong.Somanyyears.Shehadthought

thatshehadbeenforgotten.Lefttoherowndevices.Afterall,Mithilawasaminor,insignificantkingdomin the Sapt Sindhu. She hadn’t expected this. A sense of gratification meshed with the unease of themomenttoaltogetheroverwhelmhermind.Herlefthandrestedonthehiltofhersheathedsword.‘Samichi, did you understandwhat I said?’ asked theman.His gravelly voicewas distinctive. The

resultofyearsoftobaccoandalcoholabuse.Accompaniedbyuncontrolledshouting.Themanwasclearlyanoble.Expensiveclothes.Allneatlypressed.Soft,well-coiffedandcompletely

greyhair.Anarrayofringsonallhisfingers.Jewelledpommelsdecoratedhisknifeandsword.Evenhisscabbardwasgold-plated.Athickblackline,atilak,plasteredthemiddleofhiswrinkledforehead.A platoon of twenty soldiers in black uniforms stood quietly in the shadows.Out of earshot. Their

swordsweresecurelysheathed.TheyknewtheyhadnothingtofearfromSamichi.ShewastoreceiveGuruVishwamitraatSankashyathefollowingday.Shereallycouldn’taffordthis

unexpectedrendezvous.Notnow.ShementionedtheTrueLord,hopingitwouldpushAkampanaback.‘But,LordAkampana…’saidSamichiuneasily,‘…Iraiva’smessage…’‘Forgeteverythingyouweretoldearlier,’saidAkampana.‘Rememberyouroath.’Samichistiffened.‘Iwillneverforgetmyoath,LordAkampana.’‘See that you don’t.’ Akampana raised his hand and nonchalantly looked at his manicured nails.

Perfectlycut,filedandpolished.Alightcreamdyehadbeencarefullypaintedonthem.Thenailontheslimpinkiefingerthough,hadbeenpaintedblack.‘So,PrincessSita’sswayamvarwillbe…’‘You don’t have to repeat yourself,’ interrupted Samichi. ‘It will be done. It is in Princess Sita’s

interestaswell.’Akampanasmiled.PerhapssomethinghadgottenthroughSamichi’sthickheadafterall.‘Yes,itis.’

Sitasighedandlightlytappedherhead.‘Sillyme.’Shewalked intoherprivatepuja roomandpickedup theknife. Itwas thedayof theastrapuja,an

ancientritualworshipofweapons.Andshehadforgottentheknifeinthegarbhagriha,atthefeetofthedeities,afterthepuja.Fortunately, she hadmanagedwithout theweapon today.She had always suspected that thewealthy

merchant,Vijay,wasmoreloyaltoSankashyathanMithila.Earlierthatday,inthemarketplace,hehadtriedtoincitethecrowdtoattackher,whenshehadintervenedtosaveaboy-thieffrommobjustice.Fortunately, ithadall endedwell.Noonehadbeen injured.Except that stupidVijaywhowouldbe

nursingabroken rib formanyweeks.Shewouldvisit theAyuralay andcheckonhim,probably in theevening or the next day. She didn’t really care what happened to Vijay. But it was important todemonstratethatshecaredequallyforthewell-beingoftherichaswell,andnotjustthepoor.Eventhe

irredeemablystupidonesamongtherich.WhereisSamichi?The Police and Protocol Chief was expected anytime now, escorting Guru Vishwamitra and his

accompanyingMalayaputrastoMithila.And,ofcourse,RamandLakshman.Suddenly,thedoormanannouncedthatArishtanemi,themilitarychiefoftheMalayaputras,hadarrived.Sitaansweredloudly.‘Bringhimin.Withrespect.’Arishtanemiwalkedintotheroom.SitafoldedherhandstogetherinarespectfulNamasteandbowed

herheadasshegreetedtheright-handmanofMaharishiVishwamitra.‘Greetings,Arishtanemiji. IhopethatyouarecomfortableinMithila.’‘Oneisalwayscomfortableintheplaceonelooksuponashome,’smiledArishtanemi.SitawassurprisedtonotfindSamichiwithhim.Thiswasunorthodox.Samichishouldhaveescorted

theseniorofficer,withrespect,toherchambers.‘Myapologies,Arishtanemiji.Samichishouldhaveledyoutomychambers.Iamsurethatshemeant

nodisrespect,butIwillspeakwithher.’‘No,no,’saidArishtanemi,raisinghishandreassuringly.‘ItoldherthatIwantedtomeetyoualone.’‘Ofcourse.Ihopeyouaresatisfiedwiththeaccommodation,especiallyforGuruVishwamitraandthe

princesofAyodhya.’Arishtanemismiled.Sitahadcometothepointquickly.‘GuruVishwamitraiscomfortableinhisusual

setofroomsat thepalace.ButPrinceRamandPrinceLakshmanhavebeenaccommodatedintheBeesQuarter.’‘BeesQuarter?!’Sitawasaghast.HasSamichigonemad?Almostasifhehadheardherthought,Arishtanemisaid,‘Actually,Gurujihimselfwantedtheprincesto

stayinthere.’Sita raised her hands in exasperation. ‘Why? They are the princes of Ayodhya. Ram is the Crown

Princeof the empire.Ayodhyawill see this as a terrible insult. I donotwantMithila getting into anytroublebecauseof…’‘Prince Ram does not see it as an insult,’ interrupted Arishtanemi. ‘He is a mature man of great

understanding.We need to keep his presence inMithila a secret, for now.And, even youmust avoidmeetinghimforafewdays.’Sitawas losingherpatience. ‘Secret?Hehas toparticipate in theswayamvar,Arishtanemiji.That’s

whyheishere,isn’the?Howcanwekeepthisasecret?’‘Thereisaproblem,princess.’‘Whatproblem?’Arishtanemisighed.Hepausedforafewsecondsandwhispered,‘Raavan.’

‘Itiswiseofyoutohavenotmethimtillnow,’saidSamichi.SitaandSamichiwereintheroyalsectionofthestatearmoury.Aspecialroomwasreservedinthis

wingforthefavouritepersonalweaponsoftheroyalty.Sitasatonachair,carefullyoilingthePinaka,thegreatbowofLordRudra.HerconversationwithArishtanemihadupsether.Frankly,shehadhadhersuspicionsaboutwhatthe

Malayaputraswereplanning.Sheknewthattheywouldn’tgoagainsther.Shewascrucialtotheirplans.ButRamwasnot.IfonlyIhadsomeonetotalkto.IwishHanubhaiyaorRadhikawerehere…SitalookedupatSamichiandcontinuedoilingthealreadygleamingPinaka.

Samichilookednervous.Sheseemedtobeinastateofinnerstruggle.‘Ihavetotellyousomething.Idon’tcarewhattheotherssay.Butitisthetruth,Sita.PrinceRam’slifeisindanger.Youhavetosendhimhome,somehow.’Sitastoppedoilingthebowandlookedup.‘Hislifehasbeenindangersincethedayhewasborn.’Samichishookherhead.‘No.Imeanrealdanger.’‘Whatexactlyisunrealdanger,Samichi?Thereisnothingthat…’‘Please,listentome…’‘Whatareyouhiding,Samichi?’Samichistraightenedup.‘Nothing,princess.’‘Youhavebeenactingstrangethesepastfewdays.’‘Forgetaboutme.Iamnotimportant.HaveIevertoldyouanythingthatisnotinyourinterest?Please

trustme.SendPrinceRamhome,ifyoucan.’SitastaredatSamichi.‘That’snothappening.’‘Therearebiggerforcesatplay,Sita.And,youarenot incontrol.Trustme.Please.Sendhimhome

beforehegetshurt.’Sitadidn’trespond.ShelookedatthePinakaandresumedoilingthebow.LordRudra,tellmewhattodo…

‘MyfellowMithilansactuallyclapped?’askedSita,eyeswideinincredulity.ArishtanemihadjustwalkedintoSita’sprivateoffice.Withdisturbing,yetexpected,news.Raavanhad

arrivedinMithilatoparticipateinSita’sswayamvar.HisPushpakVimaan,thelegendaryflyingvehicle,hadjustlandedoutsidethecity.HewasaccompaniedbyhisbrotherKumbhakarnaandafewkeyofficers.HisbodyguardcorpsoftenthousandLankansoldiershadmarchedinseparatelyandsetupcampoutsidethecity.SitawasbemusedbythenewsthattheMithilanshadapplaudedthespectacleofthePushpakVimaan

landinginthefieldsbeyondthecitymoat.‘Most normal human beings applaud the first time they see the Pushpak Vimaan, Sita,’ said

Arishtanemi.‘Butthatisnotimportant.WhatisimportantisthatwestopRamfromleaving.’‘IsRamleaving?Why?IthoughthewouldwanttoproveapointtoRaavan…’‘Hehasn’tmadeuphismindasyet.ButI’mafraidLakshmanmaytalkhiselderbrotherintoleaving.’‘So,youwouldlikemetospeakwithhiminLakshman’sabsence.’‘Yes.’‘Haveyou…’‘I’vespokentohimalready.ButIdon’tthinkIhadmuchofanimpact…’‘Canyouthinkofsomeoneelsewhocanspeaktohim?’Arishtanemishookhishead.‘Idon’tthinkevenGuruVishwamitrawillbeabletoconvinceRam.’‘But…’‘It’suptoyou,Sita,’saidArishtanemi.‘IfRamleaves,wewillhavetocancelthisswayamvar.’‘WhatinLordRudra’snamecanItellhim?Hehasneverevenmetme.WhatdoItellhimtoconvince

himtostay?’‘Ihavenoidea.’Sitalaughedandshookherhead.‘Thankyou.’‘Sita…Iknowit’s…’‘It’sokay.I’lldoit.’Imustfindaway.Somepathwillemerge.

Arishtanemiseemedunusuallytense.‘There’smore,Sita…’‘More?’‘Thesituationmaybealittlemorecomplicated.’‘Howso?’‘Ramwas…inaway…trickedintocominghere.’‘What?’‘He wasmade to understand that he wasmerely accompanying Guru Vishwamitra on an important

missioninMithila.SinceEmperorDashrathhadcommandedRamtostrictlyfollowGuruVishwamitra’sorders,hecouldnotsayno…Hewasn’tinformedaboutthefactthathewasexpectedtoparticipateinthisswayamvar.TillhearrivedinMithila,thatis.’Sitawasshocked.‘Youhavegottobejoking!’‘Buthedidagreetotheswayamvarfinally,afewdaysago.Onthesamedaythatyouhadthatfightin

themarketplacetosavethatboy-thief…’Sitaheldherheadandclosedhereyes.‘Ican’tbelievethattheMalayaputrashavedonethis.’‘Theendsjustifythemeans,Sita.’‘NotwhenI’mexpectedtolivewiththeconsequences!’‘Buthedidagreetoparticipateintheswayamvar,eventually.’‘ThatwasbeforethearrivalofRaavan,right?’‘Yes.’Sitarolledhereyes.LordRudrahelpme.

Chapter19

SitaandSamichiwereheadedfortheBeesQuarter,accompaniedbyabodyguardposseoftenpolicemen.Thecitywasagogwith thenewsof theappearanceofRaavan, thekingofLankaand the tormentorofIndia;oratleast,thetormentorofIndiankings.Themostanimateddiscussionswereabouthislegendaryflying vehicle, thePushpak Vimaan. Even Sita’s sister, Urmila, was not immune to reports about theLankantechnologicalmarvel.Shehadinsistedonaccompanyinghereldersistertoseethevimaan.They hadmarched to the end of the Bees Quarter, up to the fort walls. ThePushpak Vimaan was

stationedbeyondthecitymoat,justbeforethejungle.EvenSitawasimpressedbywhatshesaw.The vimaan was a giant conical craft, made of some strange unknownmetal.Massive rotors were

attachedtothetopof thevehicle,at itspointedend.Smallerrotorswereattachednear thebase,onallsides.‘Ibelieve,’saidSamichi,‘themainrotoratthetopgivesthevimaantheabilitytoflyandthesmaller

rotorsatthebaseareusedtocontrolthedirectionofflight.’Themainbodyofthecrafthadmanyportholes,eachcoveredwithcircularmetalscreens.Samichi continued. ‘Apparently, the metal screens on the portholes are raised when the vimaan is

airborne.Theportholesalsohaveathickglassshield.Themaindoorisconcealedbehindasectionofthevimaan.Once that section swings open, the door slides sideward into the inner cabin. So the vimaanentranceisdoublysealed.’SitaturnedtoSamichi.‘YouknowalotaboutthisLankancraft.’Samichishookherheadandsmiledsheepishly.‘No,no.Ijustwatchedthevimaanland.That’sall…’ThousandsofLankansoldierswerecampedaroundthevimaan.Someweresleeping,otherseating.But

nearlya thirdhad theirweaponsdrawn,standingguardatstrategicpoints in thecamp.Keepingwatch.Alivetoanypotentialthreats.Sitaknewthiscampsecuritystrategy:Thestaggeredone-thirdplan.Onethirdofthesoldiers,working

inrotatingfour-hourshifts,alwaysonguard.Whiletheothersrestandrecuperate.TheLankansdon’ttaketheirsecuritylightly.‘Howmanyarethere?’askedSita.‘Probablytenthousandsoldiers,’saidSamichi.‘LordRudrahavemercy…’SitalookedatSamichi.Itwasararesight.Forherfriendlookedgenuinelynervous.SitaplacedahandonSamichi’sshoulders.‘Don’tworry.Wecanhandlethis.’

SamichibentdownandbangedthehatchdoorontheBeesQuarterroof.Tenpolicemenstoodattheback.SitacastUrmilaaquiet,reassuringlook.Nobodyopenedthedoor.SamichilookedatSita.‘Knockagain,’orderedSita.‘Andharderthistime.’Samichididasordered.

Urmilastillwasn’tsurewhathersisterwasupto.‘Didi,whyarewe…’Shestoppedtalkingthemomentthehatchdoorswungopen.Upwards.Samichilookeddown.Lakshmanstoodat theheadof thestaircase thatdescended into the room.Muscularwitha towering

height,hisgiganticformseemedtofillupthespace.Hewasfair-complexionedandhandsomeinarakish,flamboyantway.Abullofaman.Heworethecoarsewhiteclothesofcommonsoldierswhenoff-duty:amilitary style dhoti and an angvastram tied from his shoulder to the side of his waist. ThreadedRudraakshbeadsaroundhisneckproudlyproclaimedhisloyaltytoLordRudra.Lakshmanheldhissword,readytostrikeshould theneedarise.Helookedat theshort-haired,dark-

skinnedandmuscularwomanpeeringdownathim.‘Namaste,ChiefSamichi.Towhatdoweowethisvisit?’heaskedgruffly.Samichigrinneddisarmingly.‘Putyourswordbackinthescabbard,youngman.’‘LetmedecidewhatIshouldorshouldnotdo.Whatisyourbusinesshere?’‘Theprimeministerwantstomeetyourelderbrother.’Lakshmanseemedtakenaback.Likethiswasunexpected.Heturnedtothebackoftheroom,wherehis

elder brother Ram stood. Upon receiving a signal from him, he immediately slipped his sword in itsscabbardandbackedupagainstthewall,makingroomfortheMithilanstoenter.Samichidescendedthestairs,followedbySita.AsSitasteppedinthroughthedoorhole,shegestured

behindher.‘Staythere,Urmila.’Lakshman instinctively looked up. To see Urmila. Ram stood up to receive the prime minister of

Mithila.ThetwowomenclimbeddownswiftlybutLakshmanremainedrooted.Entrancedbythevisionabove.Urmilahad trulygrown into abeautifulyoung lady.Shewas shorter thanher elder sister,Sita.Alsofairer.Sofairthatherskinwasalmostthecolourofmilk.Herroundbabyfacewasdominatedbylargeeyes,whichbetrayedasweet,childlike innocence.Herhairwasarranged inabun.Everystrandneatlyinplace.Thekaajalinhereyesaccentuatedtheirexquisiteness.Herlipswereenhancedwithsomebeetextract.Herclotheswerefashionable,yetdemure:abrightpinkblousecomplementedbyadeep-reddhotiwhichwaslongerthanusual—itreachedbelowherknees.Aneatlypressedangvastramhungfromhershoulders.Ankletsandtoe-ringsdrewattentiontoherlovelyfeet,whileringsandbraceletsdecoratedherdelicatehands.Lakshmanwasmesmerised.Urmilasenseditandsmiledgenially.Thenlookedawaywithshyconfusion.SitaturnedandsawLakshmanlookingatUrmila.Hereyeswidened,justabit.UrmilaandLakshman?Hmm…‘Shutthedoor,Lakshman,’saidRam.Lakshmanreluctantlydidasordered.‘HowmayIhelpyou,princess?’askedRamtoSita.Sitaturnedandlookedatthemanshehadchosentobeherhusband.Shehadheardsomuchabouthim,

forsolong,thatshefeltlikeshepracticallyknewhim.Sofarallherthoughtsabouthimhadbeenbasedonreasonand logic.Shesawhimasaworthypartner in thedestinyof theVishnu; someoneshecouldworkwithforthegoodofhermotherland,thecountrythatsheloved,thisbeautiful,matchlessIndia.But this was the first time she saw him as a flesh-and-blood reality. Emotion arose unasked, and

occupieditsseatnexttoreason.Shehadtoadmitthefirstimpressionwasquitepleasing.The Crown Prince of Ayodhya stood at the back of the room. Ram’s coarse white dhoti and

angvastram,providedastartlingcontrasttohisdark,flawlesscomplexion.Hisnobilitylentgracetothecrudegarmentshewore.Hewastall,alittletallerthanSita.Hisbroadshoulders,strongarmsandlean,muscularphysiqueweretestimonytohisarcherytraining.Hislonghairwastiedneatlyinanunassumingbun.HeworeastringofRudraakshbeadsaroundhisneck;amarkerthathetoowasafellowdevoteeofthegreatMahadev,LordRudra.Therewasnojewelleryonhisperson.Nomarkertosignifythathewas

the scion of the powerful Suryavanshi clan, a noble descendant of the great emperor Ikshvaku. Hispersonaexudedgenuinehumilityandstrength.Sitasmiled.Notbad.Notbadatall.‘Excuseme for aminute, prince,’ saidSita. She looked at Samichi. ‘I’d like to speak to the prince

alone.’‘Ofcourse,’saidSamichi,immediatelyclimbingoutoftheroom.RamnoddedatLakshman,whoalsoturnedtoleavetheroom.Withalacrity.RamandSitawerealoneinnotime.Sitasmiledandindicatedachairintheroom.‘Pleasesit,PrinceRam.’‘I’mallright.’‘Iinsist,’saidSita,asshesatdownherself.Ram sat on a chair facing Sita.A few seconds of awkward silence passed. Then Sita spoke up, ‘I

believeyouweretrickedintocominghere.’Ramdidnotsayanything,buthiseyesgavetheansweraway.‘Thenwhyhaven’tyouleft?’‘Becauseitwouldbeagainstthelaw.’So,hehasdecidedtostayfortheswayamvar.LordRudraandLordParshuRambepraised.‘Andisitthelawthatwillmakeyouparticipateintheswayamvardayaftertomorrow?’askedSita.Ramchosesilenceagain.ButSitacouldtellthattherewassomethingonhismind.‘YouareAyodhya,theoverlordofSaptSindhu.IamonlyMithila,asmallkingdomwithlittlepower.

Whatpurposecanpossiblybeservedbythisalliance?’‘Marriagehasahigherpurpose;itcanbemorethanjustapoliticalalliance.’Sita smiled. ‘But theworld seems to believe that royalmarriages aremeant only for political gain.

Whatotherpurposedoyouthinktheycanserve?’Ramdidn’tanswer.Heseemedtobelostinanotherworld.Hiseyeshadtakenonadreamylook.Idon’tthinkhe’slisteningtome.Sita sawRam’s eyes scanning her face.Her hair.Her neck. She sawhim smile.Ruefully.His face

seemedto…Isheblushing?Whatisgoingon?IwastoldthatRamwasonlyinterestedintheaffairsofthestate.‘PrinceRam?’askedSitaloudly.‘Excuseme?’askedRam.Hisattentionreturnedtowhatshewassaying.‘Iasked,ifmarriageisnotapoliticalalliance,thenwhatisit?’‘Well,tobeginwith,itisnotanecessity;thereshouldbenocompulsiontogetmarried.There’snothing

worse than beingmarried to thewrong person.You should only getmarried if you find someone youadmire,whowillhelpyouunderstandandfulfilyourlife’spurpose.Andyou,inturn,canhelpherfulfilherlife’spurpose.Ifyou’reabletofindthatoneperson,thenmarryher.’Sita raised her eyebrows. ‘Are you advocating just one wife? Not many? Most people think

differently.’‘Evenifallpeoplethinkpolygamyisright,itdoesn’tmakeitso.’‘Butmostmentakemanywives;especiallythenobility.’‘Iwon’t.Youinsultyourwifebytakinganother.’Sitaraisedherchinincontemplation.Hereyessoftened.Admiringly.Wow…Thismanisspecial.A charged silence filled the room. As Sita gazed at him, her expression changed with sudden

recognition.‘Wasn’tityouatthemarketplacetheotherday?’sheasked.‘Yes.’Sita tried to remember thedetails.Yes.Lakshmanhadbeen there too.Next to him.Thegiantwho

stoodout.Theywereamongstthecrowdontheotherside.Theonlookers.Notapartofthewell-heeledmobthathadwantedtolynchthepoorboy-thief.IsawthemasIdraggedtheboyaway,afterthrashingVijay.Andthen,sheheldherbreathassherememberedanotherdetail.Hangon…Ramwas…bowinghisheadtome…Butwhy?OramIrememberingincorrectly?‘Whydidn’tyoustepintohelpme?’askedSita.‘Youhadthesituationundercontrol.’Sitasmiledslightly.Heisgettingbetterwitheverymoment…ItwasRam’sturntoaskquestions.‘WhatisRaavandoinghere?’‘Idon’tknow.Butitmakestheswayamvarmorepersonalforme.’Ram’smuscles tightened.Hewasshocked.Buthisexpressionremained impassive. ‘Hashecometo

participateinyourswayamvar?’‘SoIhavebeentold.’‘And?’‘And,Ihavecomehere.’Sitakeptthenextsentenceconfinedtohermind.Ihavecomeforyou.Ramwaitedforhertocontinue.‘Howgoodareyouwithabowandarrow?’askedSita.Ramallowedhimselfafaintsmile.Sitaraisedhereyebrows.‘Thatgood?’Shearosefromherchair.AsdidRam.TheprimeministerofMithilafoldedherhandsintoaNamaste.

‘MayLordRudracontinuetoblessyou,prince.’RamreturnedSita’sNamaste.‘AndmayHeblessyou,princess.’AnideastruckSita.‘CanImeetwithyourbrotherandyouintheprivateroyalgardentomorrow?’Ram’seyeshadglazedoveronceagain.HewasstaringatSita’shandsinalmostlovingdetail.Onlythe

AlmightyorRamhimselfknewthethoughtsthatwererunningthroughhishead.Forprobablythefirsttimeinherlife,Sitafeltself-conscious.Shelookedatherbattle-scarredhands.Thescaronherlefthandwasparticularlyprominent.Herhandsweren’t,inherownopinion,particularlypretty.‘PrinceRam,’saidSita,‘Iasked—’‘I’msorry,canyourepeatthat?’askedRam,bringinghisattentionbacktothepresent.‘CanImeetwithyouandyourbrotherintheprivateroyalgardentomorrow?’‘Yes,ofcourse.’‘Good,’saidSita,assheturnedtoleave.Shestoppedassherememberedsomething.Shereachedinto

thepouchtiedtoherwaistbandandpulledoutaredthread.‘Itwouldbeniceifyoucouldwearthis.It’sforgoodluck.ItisarepresentationoftheblessingsoftheKanyakumari.AndIwouldlikeyouto…’SitastoppedspeakingassherealisedthatRam’sattentionhadwanderedagain.Hewasstaringatthe

redthreadandmouthingacouplet.Onethatwasnormallyapartofaweddinghymn.Sitacouldlip-readthewordsthatRamwasmouthingsilently,forsheknewthehymnwell.Maangalyatantunaanenabhavajeevanahetuhmay.AlinefromoldSanskrit, it translated into:With

thisholythreadthatIofferyou,pleasebecomethepurposeofmylife…Shetriedhardtosuppressagiggle.‘PrinceRam…’saidSita,loudly.Ramsuddenlystraightenedastheweddinghymnplayinginhismindwentsilent.‘I’msorry.What?’Sitasmiledpolitely,‘Iwassaying…’Shestoppedsuddenly.‘Nevermind.I’llleavethethreadhere.

Pleasewearitifitpleasesyou.’Placing the thread on the table, Sita began to climb the stairs.As she reached the door, she turned

aroundforalastlook.Ramwasholdingthethreadinthepalmofhisrighthand.Gazingatitreverentially.Asifitwasthemostsacredthingintheworld.Sitasmiledonceagain.Thisiscompletelyunexpected…

Chapter20

Sitasataloneinherprivatechamber.Astonished.Pleasantlysurprised.Samichi had briefed her on the conversation betweenLakshman andUrmila. Lakshmanwas clearly

besottedwithhersister.Hewasalso,clearly,veryproudofhiselderbrother.Hesimplywouldn’tstoptalkingaboutRam.LakshmanhadtoldtheduoaboutRam’sattitudetowardsmarriage.ItseemedthatRamdidnotwanttomarryanordinarywoman.Hewantedawoman,infrontofwhomhewouldbecompelledtobowhisheadinadmiration.Samichihadlaughed,whilerelatingthistoSita.‘Ramislikeanearnest,conscientiousschoolboy,’she

hadsaid.‘Hehasnotgrownupyet.Thereisnotatraceofcynicisminhim.Or,realism.Trustme,Sita.SendhimbacktoAyodhyabeforehegetshurt.’SitahadlistenedtoSamichiwithoutreacting.Butonlyonethinghadreverberatedinhermind—Ram

wantedtomarryawomaninfrontofwhomhewouldbecompelledtobowhisheadinadmiration.Hebowedtome…Shegiggled.Notsomethingshedidnormally.Itfeltstrange.Evengirlish…Sita rarely bothered about her appearance. But for some reason, she now walked to the polished

coppermirrorandlookedatherself.ShewasalmostastallasRam.Lean.Muscular.Wheat-complexioned.Herroundfaceashadelighter

thantherestofherbody.Shehadhighcheekbonesandasharp,smallnose.Herlipswereneitherthinnorfull.Herwide-seteyeswereneithersmallnorlarge;strongbrowswerearchedinaperfectcurveabovecreaselesseyelids.Herstraight,jet-blackhairwasbraidedandtiedinaneatbun.Asalways.ShelookedlikethemountainpeoplefromtheHimalayas.Notforthefirsttime,shewonderediftheHimalayaswereheroriginalhome.Shetouchedabattlescaronherforearmandwinced.Herscarshadbeenasourceofpride.Once.Dotheymakemelookugly?Sheshookherhead.AmanlikeRamwillrespectmyscars.It’sawarrior’sbody.Shegiggledagain.Shehadalwaysthoughtofherselfasawarrior.Asaprincess.Asaruler.Oflate,

shehadevengottenusedtobeingtreatedbytheMalayaputrasastheVishnu.Butthisfeelingwasnew.Shenowfelt likeanapsara,acelestialnymphofunimaginablebeauty.Onewhocouldhaltherman inhistracksbyjustflutteringhereyelashes.Itwasaheadyfeeling.Shehadalwaysheldthese‘prettywomen’indisdainandthoughtofthemasnon-serious.Notanymore.Sitaputahandonherhipandlookedatherselffromthecornerofhereyes.ShereplayedthemomentsspentwithRamattheBeesQuarter.Ram….Thiswasnew.Special.Shegiggledonceagain.Sheundidherhairandsmiledatherreflection.Thisisthebeginningofabeautifulrelationship.

The royal garden inMithilawasmodest in comparison to the one inAyodhya. It only contained localtrees,plants,andflowerbeds.Itsbeautycouldsafelybeattributedmoretotheministrationsoftalentedgardeners than to an impressive infusion of funds. The layout was symmetrical, well-manicured. Thethick,greencarpetofgrassthrownintovisualreliefbytheprofusionofflowersandtreesofallshapes,sizesandcolours.ItwasacelebrationofNature,expressedinorderedharmony.Sita andUrmilawaited in a clearingat thebackof thegarden.Sitahadaskedheryounger sister to

accompanyher so thatUrmila could spendmore timewithLakshman.Thiswould also give her somealonetimewithRam,withouttheloomingpresenceofLakshman.Samichiwas at the gate, taskedwith fetching the young princes ofAyodhya. Shewalked in shortly,

followedbyRamandLakshman.The evening sky has increased his radiance … Sita quickly controlled her wandering mind and

beatingheart.‘Namaste,princess,’saidRamtoSita.‘Namaste, prince,’ replied Sita, before turning to her sister. ‘May I introduce my younger sister,

Urmila?’Gesturing towardsRamandLakshman,Sita continued, ‘Urmila,meetPrinceRamandPrinceLakshmanofAyodhya.’‘Ihadoccasiontomeetheryesterday,’saidLakshman,grinningfromeartoear.UrmilasmiledpolitelyatLakshman,withherhandsfoldedinaNamaste,thenturnedtowardsRamand

greetedhim.‘Iwouldliketospeakwiththeprinceprivately,onceagain,’saidSita.‘Ofcourse,’saidSamichiimmediately.‘MayIhaveaprivatewordbeforethat?’Samichi took Sita aside andwhispered in her ear, ‘Sita, please rememberwhat I said. Ram is too

simple.And,hislifeisinrealdanger.Pleaseaskhimtoleave.Thisisourlastchance.’Sitasmiledpolitely,fullyintendingtoignoreSamichi’swords.Samichi cast a quick look at Ram before walking away, leading Urmila by the hand. Lakshman

followedUrmila.RammovedtowardsSita.‘Whydidyouwanttomeetme,princess?’SitacheckedthatSamichiandtherestwerebeyondearshot.Shewasabouttobeginspeakingwhenher

eyesfellontheredthreadtiedaroundRam’srightwrist.Shesmiled.Hehaswornit.‘Pleasegivemeaminute,prince,’saidSita.Shewalkedbehinda tree,bentandpickedupa longpackagecovered incloth.Shewalkedback to

Ram.Hefrowned,intrigued.Sitapulledtheclothbacktorevealanintricatelycarved,andunusuallylong,bow.Anexquisitepieceofweaponry,itwasacompositebowwithrecurvedends,whichwouldgiveitavery long range.Ramcarefully examined the carvingson the inside faceof the limbs, both above andbelowthegripofthebow.Itwastheimageofaflame,representativeofAgni,theGodofFire.ThefirsthymnofthefirstchapteroftheRigVedawasdedicatedtothedeeplyrevereddeity.However,theshapeofthisflamewasslightlydifferent.Sitapulledaflatwoodenbaseplatformfromtheclothbagandplaceditonthegroundceremonially.

ShelookedatRam.‘Thisbowcannotbeallowedtotouchtheground.’Ramwasclearlyfascinated.Hewonderedwhythisbowwassoimportant.Sitaplacedthelowerlimb

ofthebowontheplatform,steadyingitwithherfoot.Sheusedherrighthandtopulldowntheotherendwithforce.Judgingbythestrainonhershoulderandbiceps,Ramguessedthatitwasaverystrongbowwithtremendousresistance.Withherlefthand,Sitapulledthebowstringupandquicklystrungit.Shelettheupperlimbofthebowextend,andrelaxed.Sheletoutalongbreath.Themightybowadjustedtotheconstraintsofthepotentbowstring.Sheheldthebowwithherlefthandandpulledthebowstringwithherfingers,lettingitgowithaloudtwang.

Ramknewfromthesoundthatthisbowwasspecial.‘Wow.That’sagoodbow.’‘It’sthebest.’‘Isityours?’‘I cannot own a bow like this. I am only its caretaker, for now.When I die, someone elsewill be

deputedtotakecareofit.’Ramnarrowedhis eyesashecloselyexamined the imageof the flamesaround thegripof thebow.

‘Theseflameslookalittlelike—’Sitainterruptedhim,impressedthathehadfigureditoutsoquickly.‘Thisbowoncebelongedtothe

onewhomwebothworship.Itstillbelongstohim.’Ramstaredatthebowwithamixtureofshockandawe,hissuspicionconfirmed.Sitasmiled.‘Yes,itisthePinaka.’ThePinaka was the legendary bow of the previous Mahadev, Lord Rudra. It was considered the

strongestbowevermade.Believedtobeacomposite,itwasamixofmanymaterials,whichhadbeengivenasuccessionofspecifictreatmentstoarrestitsdegeneration.Itwasalsobelievedthatmaintainingthisbowwasnotaneasytask.Thegrip,thelimbsandtherecurvedendsneededregularlubricationwithaspecialoil.‘HowdidMithilacomeintothepossessionofthePinaka?’askedRam,unabletotakehiseyesoffthe

beautifulweapon.‘It’salongstory,’saidSita.Sheknewshecouldn’tgivehimtherealreason.Notyet,at least.‘ButI

want you to practise with it. This is the bow which will be used for the swayamvar competitiontomorrow.’Ram took an involuntary step back. Thereweremanyways inwhich a swayamvar was conducted.

Sometimesthebridedirectlyselectedhergroom.Or,shemandatedacompetition.Thewinnermarriedthebride.However,itwasunorthodoxforagroomtobegivenadvanceinformationandhelp.Infact,itwasagainsttherules.Ramshookhishead.‘ItwouldbeanhonourtoeventouchthePinaka,muchlessholdthebowthatLord

Rudrahimselfgracedwithhistouch.ButIwillonlydosotomorrow.Nottoday.’Sitafrowned.What?Doesn’thewanttomarryme?‘Ithoughtyouintendedtowinmyhand,’saidSita.‘Ido.ButIwillwinittherightway.Iwillwinaccordingtotherules.’Sitasmiled,shakingherhead.Thismanistrulyspecial.Eitherhewillgodowninhistoryassomeone

whowasexploitedbyall.Or,hewillberememberedasoneofthegreatestever.Sita was happy that she had chosen to marry Ram. In a tiny corner of her heart, though, she was

worried.Forsheknewthatthismanwouldsuffer.Theworldwouldmakehimsuffer.Andfromwhatsheknewabouthislife,hehadsufferedalotalready.‘Doyoudisagree?’askedRam,seemingdisappointed.‘No,Idon’t.I’mjustimpressed.Youareaspecialman,PrinceRam.’Ramblushed.He’sblushingagain…!‘Ilookforwardtoseeingyoufireanarrowtomorrowmorning,’saidSita,smiling.

‘Herefusedhelp?Really?’askedJatayu,surprised.Jatayu and Sita hadmet in the patch of the jungle that was now their regularmeeting place. It lay

towardsthenorthofthecity,asfarawayaspossiblefromRaavan’stemporarycamp.‘Yes,’answeredSita.

Jatayusmiledandshookhishead.‘Heisnoordinaryman.’‘No,heisn’t.ButI’mnotsurewhethertheMalayaputrasagree.’Jatayuinstinctivelycastaglancearoundthewoods,asifexpectingtobeheardbytheformidablechief

oftheMalayaputras.HeknewVishwamitradidnotlikeRam.ThePrinceofAyodhyawasjustatoolfortheMaharishi;ameanstoanend.‘It’s all right.Thewordswill not carry to…’Sita left the nameunsaid. ‘So,what do you think of

Ram?’‘Heisspecial inmanyways,mysister,’whisperedJatayu,carefully.‘Perhaps, justwhatourcountry

needs…Hisobsessionwithrulesandhonesty,hisalmightyloveforthisgreatland,hishighexpectationsfromeveryone,includinghimself…’Sitafinallyaskedhimthequestionthathadbeenweighingonhermind.‘IsthereanythingIshouldknow

abouttheMalayaputras’plansregardingRamtomorrow?Attheswayamvar?’Jatayuremainedsilent.Helookeddistinctlynervous.‘Youhavecalledmeyoursister,Jatayuji.Andthisisregardingmyfuturehusband.Ideservetoknow.’Jatayulookeddown.StrugglingbetweenhisloyaltytotheMalayaputrasandhisdevotiontoSita.‘Please,Jatayuji.Ineedtoknow.’Jatayustraightenedhisbackand letouta sigh. ‘Youdoknowabout theattackonamotleybunchof

AsurasclosetoourGangaashram,right?’Vishwamitra hadgone toAyodhya and asked forRamandLakshman’s help in resolving a ‘serious’

militaryproblemthathewasfacing.HehadtakenthemtohisashramclosetotheGangaRiver.HehadthenaskedthemtoleadacontingentofhisMalayaputrasoldiersinanassaultonasmalltribeofAsuras,whowereapparently,attackinghisashram repeatedly. Itwasonlyafter the ‘Asuraproblem’hadbeenhandledthattheyhadleftforMithila,forSita’sswayamvar.‘Yes,’saidSita.‘WasRam’slifeindanger?’Jatayu shook his head dismissively. ‘It was a pathetic tribe of a handful of people. They were

imbeciles.Incapablewarriors.Ram’slifewasneverindanger.’Sitafrowned,confused.‘Idon’tunderstand…’‘Theideawasn’ttogetridofRam.Itwastodestroyhisreputationwithhismostpowerfulsupporters.’Sita’seyeswidenedasshefinallyunravelledtheconspiracy.‘TheMalayaputrasdonotwanthimdead.Theywanthimoutof thereckoningasapotentialVishnu;

and,undertheircontrol.’‘AretheMalayaputrasintendingtoallywithRaavan?’Jatayuwasshocked.‘Howcanyouevenaskthat,greatVishnu?TheywillneverallywithRaavan.In

fact,theywilldestroyhim.Butonlywhenthetimeisright.Remember,theMalayaputrasareloyaltoonecausealone:therestorationofIndia’sgreatness.Nothingelsematters.Raavanisjustatoolforthem.’‘AsisRam.AsamI.’‘No.No…HowcanyoueventhinkthattheMalayaputraswoulduseyouasa…’SitalookedatJatayu,silently.PerhapsSamichiisright.Thereareforcesfarbeyondmycontrol.And

Ramis…JatayuinterruptedSita’sthoughtsandunwittinglygaveheraclueastowhatsheshoulddo.‘Remember,

greatVishnu.YouaretoocrucialtotheMalayaputras’plans.Theycannotallowanythingtohappentoyou.Noharmcancometoyou.’Sitasmiled.Jatayuhadgivenhertheanswer.Sheknewwhatshemustdo.

Chapter21

‘DoIknowallthereistoknowabouttheMalayaputras’plansfortheswayamvar,Arishtanemiji?’askedSita.Arishtanemiwassurprisedbythequestion.‘Idon’tunderstand,Sita,’hesaid,carefully.‘HowdidRaavangetaninvitation?’‘Weareascluelessasyou,Sita.Youknowthat.Wesuspectittobethehandiworkofyouruncle.But

thereisnoproof.’Sitalookedsceptical.‘Right…Noproof.’Arishtanemitookadeepbreath.‘Whydon’tyousaywhatisonyourmind,Sita…’Sita leanedforward, lookeddirectly intoArishtanemi’seyes,andsaid,‘IknowthatRaavan’sfamily

hasitsrootsinKannauj.’Arishtanemiwinced.Butrecoveredquickly.Heshookhishead,aninjuredexpressiononhisface.‘In

thenameofthegreatLordParshuRam,Sita.Howcanyouthinksuchthoughts?’Sitawasimpassive.‘YouthinkGuruVishwamitrahasanyotheridentitynow,besidesbeingthechiefoftheMalayaputras?

Seriously?’Arishtanemilookedalittleagitated.Itwasuncharacteristicofhim.Sitaknewshehadhitanerve.She

couldnothavehadaconversationlikethiswithVishwamitra.Sheneededtopresshometheadvantage.Arishtanemi was one of the rare fewwho could convince Vishwamitra. She unnerved him further bychoosingsilence.Fornow.‘WecandestroyRaavanatanytime,’saidArishtanemi.‘Wekeephimalivebecauseweplantousehis

deathtohelpyou.Tohelpyouberecognised,byallIndians,astheVishnu.’‘Ibelieveyou.’Now,Arishtanemifellsilent.Confused.‘AndIalsoknowthatyouhaveplansforRam.’‘Sita,listento…’SitainterruptedArishtanemi.Itwastimetodeliverthethreat.‘ImaynothaveRam’slifeinmyhands.

ButIdohavemyownlifeinmyhands.’AshockedArishtanemididnotknowwhattosay.AlltheplanswouldbereducedtodustwithoutSita.

Theyhadinvestedtoomuchinher.‘Ihavechosen,’saidSitafirmly.‘Nowyouneedtodecidewhattodo.’‘Sita…’‘Ihavenothingmoretosay,Arishtanemiji.’

TheswayamvarwasheldintheHallofDharmainsteadoftheroyalcourt.ThiswassimplybecausetheroyalcourtwasnotthebiggesthallinMithila.Themainbuildinginthepalacecomplex,whichhousedtheHall of Dharma, had been donated by King Janak to the Mithila University. The hall hosted regular

debates and discussions on various esoteric topics— the nature of dharma, karma’s interaction withdharma,thenatureofthedivine,thepurposeofthehumanjourney…TheHallofDharmawasinacircularbuilding,builtofstoneandmortar,withamassivedome.The

delicate elegance of the domewas believed to represent the feminine, while the typical temple spirerepresented themasculine. The hall was also circular. All rishis sat as equals, without a moderating‘head’,debatingissuesopenlyandwithoutfear;freedomofexpressionatitszenith.However, todaywasdifferent.TheHallofDharmawas set tohost aswayamvar.Temporary three-

tieredspectatorstandsstoodneartheentrance.Attheotherend,onawoodenplatform,wasplacedtheking’sthrone.AstatueofthegreatKingMithi,thefounderofMithila,stoodonaraisedpedestalbehindthethrone.Twothrones,onlymarginallylessgrand,wereplacedtotheleftandrightoftheking’sthrone.A circle of comfortable seats lined themiddle section of the great hall, where kings and princes, thepotentialsuitors,wouldsit.ThespectatorstandswerealreadypackedwhenRamandLakshmanwereledinbyArishtanemi.Mostcontestantstoohadtakentheirseats.FewrecognisedthetwoprincesofAyodhya,dressedashermits.Aguardgesturedforthemtomovetowardsthebaseplatformofathree-tieredstand,occupiedbythenobilityandrichmerchantsofMithila.Arishtanemiinformedtheguardthathewasaccompanyingacompetitor.Theguardwassurprised.He

hadrecognisedArishtanemi,thelieutenantofthegreatVishwamitra,butnotRamandLakshman.Buthesteppedasidetoletthemproceed.Afterall,itwouldnotbeunusualforthedevoutKingJanaktoinviteevenBrahminrishis,notjustKshatriyakings,forhisdaughter’sswayamvar.RamfollowedArishtanemitotheallottedseat.Heseatedhimself,asLakshmanandArishtanemistood

behindhim.Alleyesturnedtothem.Manycontestantswonderedwhothesesimplemendicantswere,whohopedtocompetewiththemforPrincessSita’shand.Afew,though,recognisedtheprincesofAyodhya.Aconspiratorialbuzzwasheardfromasectionofthecontestants.‘Ayodhya…’‘WhydoesAyodhyawantanalliancewithMithila?’Ram,however,wasoblivioustothestaresandwhispersoftheassembly.Helookedtowardsthecentreofthehall;tothePinakabowplacedonatable.Thelegendarybowwas

unstrung.Anarrayofarrowsplacedbyitsside.Nexttothetable,atgroundlevel,wasalargecopper-platedbasin.Acompetitorwasfirstrequiredtopickupthebowandstringit. Itselfnomeantask.Thenhewould

movetothecopper-platedbasin.Itwasfilledwithwater,withadditionaldropstricklinginsteadilyintothebasinthroughathintube.Excesswaterwasdrainedoutbyanotherthintube,attachedtotheotherside.Thiscreatedsubtlerippleswithinthebowl,spreadingoutfromthecentretowardstheedge.Troublingly,thedropsofwaterwerereleasedatirregularintervals,makingtheripplesunpredictable.Ahilsa fishwasnailedtoawheel,fixedtoanaxlethatwassuspendedfromthetopof thedome.A

hundredmetresabovetheground.Thewheel,thankfully,revolvedataconstantspeed.Thecontestantwasrequiredtolookatthereflectionofthefishintheunstillwaterbelow,disturbedby

ripplesgeneratedatirregularintervals,andusethePinakabowtofireanarrowintotheeyeofthefish,fixedontherevolvingwheelhighabove.Thefirsttosucceedwouldwinthehandofthebride.SitasatinaroomonthesecondflooradjoiningtheHallofDharma,directlyabovetheroyalMithilan

thrones,hiddenbehindalatticedwindow.ShelookedatRam,seatedinthecircleofcontestants.TheeldestprinceofAyodhyalookedaround.Sitafeltas thoughhewasseekingherout.Shesmiled.

‘I’mhere,Ram.I’mwaitingforyou.Waitingforyoutowin…’ShenoticedSamichistandingwithaposseofpolicemenashortdistancefromtheentrance.Samichi

wasstaringatRam.Shelookedupat the latticedwindowwhereSitasathiddenfromview.Shehadalookofutterdisapproval.Sita sighedwith irritation.Samichi needs to relax. I canhandle the situation.Ram’s life is not in

danger.She turnedher attentionback to theprincesofAyodhya.She sawLakshmanbendclose tohis elder

brotherandwhispersomething.Theexpressiononhisfacemischievous.Ramlookedathisbrotherandglared.Lakshmangrinned,saidsomethingmore,andsteppedback.Sitasmiled.Thebrothersreallyloveeachother.Surprising,giventhepoliticsoftheirfamily.Herattentionwasdrawnawaybythecourtannouncer.‘TheLordoftheMithiclan,thewisestofthewise,belovedoftherishis,KingJanak!’Thecourtarosetowelcometheirhost,Janak,thekingofMithila.Hewalkedinfromthefarendofthe

hall. In a deviation fromcourtly tradition, he followed thegreatMalayaputra chief,Vishwamitra,whowas in the lead. Janak had always honoured men and women of knowledge. He followed his ownpersonal traditionon this specialdayaswell.BehindJanakwashisyoungerbrother,Kushadhwaj, thekingofSankashya.Thoseawareof the strained relationsbetweenJanakandhisyoungerbrother,wereimpressedby thegraciousnessof thekingofMithila.Hehad letbygonesbebygonesand included theentireextendedfamilyinthiscelebration.Unfortunately,Kushadhwajfeltotherwise.Hefelthisbrotherhadbeennaiveasusual.Besides,Kushadhwajhadjustplayedhisowncards…JanakrequestedVishwamitratooccupythemainthroneofMithila,ashemovedtowardsthesmaller

throne to the right.Kushadhwajwalked towards the seat on the left of the greatMaharishi. Thiswasexactly two floorsbelow the roomSitawas in,hiddenbehinda latticedwindow.A flurryofofficialsscuttledallovertheplace,forthiswasanunexpectedbreachofprotocol.Thekinghadofferedhisownthronetoanother.A loud buzz ran through the hall at this unorthodox seating arrangement, but Sitawas distracted by

somethingelse.WhereisRaavan?Shesmiled.SotheMalayaputrashavehandledthekingofLanka.Hewon’tbecoming.Good.Thecourtcrierbangedhisstaffagainst the largebellat theentranceof thehall,signallingacallfor

silence.Vishwamitraclearedhisthroatandspokeloudly.ThesuperbacousticsoftheHallofDharmacarried

hisvoiceclearly toall thosepresent. ‘Welcome to this augustgatheringcalledby thewisest andmostspiritualofrulersinIndia,KingJanak.’Janaksmiledgenially.Vishwamitracontinued. ‘TheprincessofMithila,Sita,hasdecided tomake this agupt swayamvar.

Shewillnotjoinusinthehall.Thegreatkingsandprinceswill,onherbidding,compete—’TheMaharishiwas interruptedby the ear-splitting soundsofnumerous conch shells; surprising, for

conch shells were usually melodious and pleasant. Everyone turned to the source of the sound: theentranceofthegreathall.Fifteentall,muscularwarriorsstrodeintotheroomholdingblackflags,withtheimageoftheheadofaroaringlionemergingfromaprofusionoffieryflames.Thewarriorsmarchedwithsplendiddiscipline.Behindthemweretwoformidablemen.Onewasagiant,eventallerthanLakshman.Hewascorpulent

butmuscular,withamassivepotbellythatjiggledwitheverystep.Hiswholebodywasunusuallyhirsute—he lookedmore likeagiantbear thanhuman.Most troubling forall thosepresent,were thestrangeoutgrowths on his ears and shoulders. He was a Naga. He was also Raavan’s younger brother,Kumbhakarna.WalkingproudlybesidehimwasRaavan,hisheadheldhigh.Hemovedwithaminorstoop;perhapsa

signofadvancingage.Despitethestoop,Raavan’sgreatheightandripplingmusculaturewereobvious.Themusclesmayhavesaggedabitandtheskinmayhavewrinkled,butthestrengththatremainedinthemwaspalpable.Hisbattle-worn,swarthyskinwaspockmarked,probablybyachildhooddisease.Athick

beard,withanequalsprinklingofblackandwhitehair,valiantlyattemptedtocoverhisuglymarkswhilea handlebar moustache set off his menacing features. He was wearing a violet-coloured dhoti andangvastram;onlythemostexpensivecolour-dyeintheworld.Hisheadgearwasintimidating,withtwothreateningsix-inch-longhornsreachingoutfromthetoponeitherside.Fifteenmorewarriorsfollowedthetwomen.Raavan’sentouragemovedtothecentreandhaltednexttothebowofLordRudra.Theleadbodyguard

madealoudannouncement.‘Thekingofkings,theemperorofemperors,therulerofthethreeworlds,thebelovedoftheGods,LordRaavan!’RaavanturnedtoaminorkingwhosatclosesttothePinaka.Hemadeasoftgruntingsoundandflicked

his head to the right, a casual gesture which clearly communicated what he expected. The kingimmediatelyroseandscurriedaway,comingtoastandstillbehindanothercompetitor.Raavanwalkedtothe chair, but did not sit. He placed his right foot on the seat and rested his hand on his knee. Hisbodyguards,includingthegiantbear-likeKumbhakarna,fellinlinebehindhim.RaavanfinallycastacasualglanceatVishwamitra.‘Continue,greatMalayaputra.’Vishwamitra,thechiefoftheMalayaputras,wasfurious.Hehadneverbeentreatedsodisrespectfully.

‘Raavan…’hegrowled.RaavanstaredatVishwamitrawithlazyarrogance.TheMaharishimanagedtoreininhis temper;hehadanimportant taskathand.Hewoulddealwith

Raavanlater.‘PrincessSitahasdecreedthesequenceinwhichthegreatkingsandprinceswillcompete.’Raavan began to walk towards thePinaka while Vishwamitra was still speaking. The chief of the

MalayaputrascompletedhisannouncementjustasRaavanwasabouttoreachforthebow.‘Thefirstmantocompeteisnotyou,Raavan.ItisRam,theprinceofAyodhya.’Raavan’shandstoppedafewinchesfromthebow.HelookedatVishwamitra,andthenturnedaround

to seewhohad responded to the sage.He sawayoungman, dressed in the simplewhite clothesof ahermit.Behindhimstoodanotheryoung,thoughgigantic,man,nexttowhomwasArishtanemi.RaavanglaredfirstatArishtanemi,andthenatRam.Iflookscouldkill,Raavanwouldhavecertainly

felledafewtoday.HeturnedtowardsVishwamitra,Janak,andKushadhwaj,hisfingerswrappedaroundthe macabre finger-bones pendant that hung around his neck. His body was shaking in utter fury. Hegrowledinaloudandboomingvoice,‘Ihavebeeninsulted!WhywasIinvitedatallifyouplannedtomakeunskilledboyscompeteaheadofme?!’JanaklookedatKushadhwajbeforeturningtoRaavanandinterjectingweakly,‘Thesearetherulesof

theswayamvar,GreatKingofLanka…’Avoicethatsoundedmoreliketherumbleof thunderwasfinallyheard.ThevoiceofKumbhakarna.

‘Enoughofthisnonsense!’HeturnedtowardsRaavan,hiselderbrother.‘Dada,let’sgo.’Raavan suddenly bent and picked up the Pinaka. Before anyone could react, he had strung it and

nockedanarrowonthestring.EveryonesatparalysedashepointedthearrowdirectlyatVishwamitra.Vishwamitrastoodup,threwhisangvastramaside,andbangedhischestwithhisclosedfist.‘Shoot,

Raavan!’Thesage’svoiceresoundedinthegreathall.‘Comeon!Shoot,ifyouhavetheguts!’Thecrowdgaspedcollectively.Inhorror.Sitawasshockedbeyondwords.Guruji!Raavanreleased thearrow. It slammed into thestatueofMithibehindVishwamitra,breakingoff the

noseoftheancientking,thefounderofMithila.Anunimaginableinsult.Sitawaslivid.Howdarehe?‘Raavan!’growledSita,asshegotupandwhirledaround,simultaneouslyreachingforhersword.She

wasstoppedbyherMithilanmaids,whoheldherbackfromrushingtowardsthestairs.‘No,LadySita!’‘Raavanisamonster…’

‘Youwilldie…’‘Look,he’sleaving…’saidanothermaid.Sitarushedbacktothelatticedwindow.ShesawRaavanthrowthebow,theholyPinaka,onthetable

andbegintowalktowardsthedoor.Hewasfollowedbyhisguards.Inallthiscommotion,Kumbhakarnaquicklysteppeduptothetable,unstrungthePinaka,andreverentiallybroughtit tohishead.Holdingitwithbothhands.Almost likehewasapologising to thebow.Placing thePinaka backon the table, heturnedaroundandbrisklywalkedoutofthehall.BehindRaavan.AsthelastoftheLankansexited,thepeoplewithinthehallturnedinunisonfromthedoorwaytothose

seatedattheotherendoftheroom:Vishwamitra,JanakandKushadhwaj.Vishwamitraspokeasifnothinghadhappened.‘Letthecompetitionbegin.’Thepeople in the room sat still, as if theyhad turned to stone.Enmasse. Vishwamitra spoke once

again,louderthistime.‘Letthecompetitionbegin.PrinceRam,pleasestepup.’RamrosefromhischairandwalkeduptothePinaka.Hebowedwithreverenceandfoldedhishands

togetherintoaNamaste.Sitathoughtshesawhislipsmoveinachant.Butshecouldn’tbesurefromthedistance.Heraisedhisrightwristandtouchedbothhiseyeswiththeredthreadtiedaroundit.Sita smiled.May the Kanyakumari bless you, Ram. And, may she bless me with your hand in

marriage.Ramtouchedthebowandtarriedawhile.Hethenbroughthisheaddownandplaceditonthebow;as

if asking tobeblessedby thegreatweapon.Hebreathed steadilyashe lifted thebowwithease.SitalookedatRamintently.Withbatedbreath.Ramplacedonearmofthebowonawoodenstandplacedontheground.Hisshoulders,backandarms

strainedvisiblyashepulleddowntheupperlimbofthePinaka,simultaneouslypullingupthebowstring.His body laboured at the task. But his face was serene. He bent the upper limb farther with a slightincreaseineffort,andtiedthebowstring.Hismusclesrelaxedasheletgooftheupperlimbandheldthebowat thegrip.Hebrought thebowstringclosetohisearandplucked;hisexpressionshowedthat thetwangwasright.Hepickedup an arrowandwalked to the copper-plated basin.Deliberate footsteps.Unhurried.He

wentdownononekneeandheldthebowhorizontallyabovehishead.Helookeddownatthewater.Atthereflectionofthefishthatmovedinacircleabovehim.Theripplingwaterinthebasindancedasiftotantalisehismind.Ramfocusedontheimageofthefishtotheexclusionofallelse.Henockedthearrowonthestringofthebowandpulledslowlywithhisrighthand.Hisbackerect.Thecoremusclesactivatedwithidealtension.Hisbreathingsteadyandrhythmic.Calmly,withoutanyhintofnervousnessoranxiety,hepulledthestringallthewaybackandreleased

thearrow.Itshotup.Asdidthevisionofeachpersonintheroom.Theunmistakablesoundofafuriouslyspeedingarrowcrashingintowoodreverberatedinthegreathall.Ithadpiercedtherighteyeofthefish,andlodgeditselfintothewoodenwheel.Thewheelswirledrhythmicallyastheshaftofthearrowdrewcirclesintheair.Sita smiled in relief. All the tension of the last few dayswas forgotten. The anger of the last few

minutes,forgotten.HereyeswerepinnedonRam,whokneltnearthebasinwithhisheadbowed,studyingtheripplingwater;acalmsmileonhisface.A part of Sita that had died years ago,when she had lost hermother, slowly sputtered to life once

again.Iamnotaloneanymore.She feltabittersweetacheasshe thoughtofhermother.Thatshewasn’taround toseeSita findher

man.Forthefirsttimesincehermother’sdeath,shecouldthinkofherwithoutcrying.

Griefoverwhelmsyouwhenyouarealone.Butwhenyoufindyoursoulmate,youcanhandleanything.Whatwasapainful,unbearablememoryhadnowbeentransformedintobittersweetnostalgia.Asource

ofsadness,yes.Butalso,asourceofstrengthandhappiness.Shepicturedhermotherstandingbeforeher.Smiling.Nurturing.Warm.Maternal.LikeMotherNature

herself.Sitawaswholeonceagain.Afteralong,longtime,shefeltlikewhisperingwordsthatlayburieddeepinherconsciousness.Words

thatshethoughtshewouldhavenouseforoncehermotherhaddied.ShelookedatRaminthedistanceandwhispered,‘Iloveyou.’

Chapter22

‘Thankyou,Arishtanemiji,’saidSita.‘TheMalayaputrasstoodbyme.Gurujiputhisownlifeatrisk.Iamgrateful.’IthadbeenannouncedthattheweddingofRamandSitawouldbecarriedoutinasimplesetofrituals

thatveryafternoon.ToRam’ssurprise,SitahadsuggestedthatLakshmanandUrmilagetmarriedinthesameauspicioushouroftheday.ToRam’sfurtherdisbelief,Lakshmanhadenthusiasticallyagreed.ItwasdecidedthatwhileboththecoupleswouldbewedinMithila—toallowSitaandUrmilatotravelwithRamandLakshmantoAyodhya—asetofgrandceremonieswouldbeheldinAyodhyaaswell.BefittingthedescendantsofthenobleIkshvaku.In themidstof thepreparations for theweddingceremonies,Arishtanemihad soughtameetingwith

Sita.‘Ihopethisputs torestanysuspicionsaboutwhere theMalayaputra loyalties lie,’saidArishtanemi.

‘Wehavealwaysbeen,andalwayswillbe,withtheVishnu.’YouwillbewiththeVishnuonlyaslongasIdowhatyouwantmetodo.NotwhenIdosomething

thatdoesnotfitinwithyourplans.Sitasmiled.‘Myapologiesforhavingdoubtedyou,Arishtanemiji.’Arishtanemismiled.‘Misunderstandingscanoccurwithintheclosestoffamilies.All’swellthatends

well.’‘WhereisGuruVishwamitra?’‘Wheredoyouthink?’Raavan.‘Howisthedemonkingtakingit?’askedSita.VishwamitrahadgoneoutonalimbtoaggressivelystopRaavanduringtheswayamvar.TheKingof

Lankahad felt insulted.There couldbe consequences.Raavan’s almighty egowas as legendary as hiswarriorspiritandcruelty.ButwouldhetakeontheformidableMalayaputras?ArishtanemilookeddownthoughtfullybeforereturninghisgazetoSita.‘Raavanisacoldandruthless

man,whomakesdecisionsbasedonhardcalculations.Buthisego…Hisegogetsinthewaysometimes.’‘ColdandruthlesscalculationswouldtellhimnottotakeontheMalayaputras,’saidSita.‘Heneeds

whateveritiswegivehimfromthecavernoftheThamiravaruni.’‘Thathedoes.ButlikeIsaid,hisegomaygetintheway.IhopeGuruVishwamitracanhandleit.’Arishtanemi was astonished that Sita had not uncovered the entire secret of the aid that the

Malayaputras provided Raavan. Perhaps, there were some things beyond even the redoubtable Sita’sabilities.Buthekepthissurprisefromshowingonhisface.

The two weddings were simple sets of rituals, concluded quickly in the afternoon of the day of theswayamvar.SitaandRamwerealoneatlast.Theysatonfloorcushionsinthedininghall,theirdinnerplacedona

lowstool.Itwaslateintheevening,thesixthhourofthethirdprahar.Notwithstandingtheirrelationship

being sanctified by dharma a few hours earlier, an awkwardness underlined their ignorance of eachother’spersonalities.‘Umm,’saidRam,staringathisplate.‘Yes,Ram?’askedSita.‘Isthereaproblem?’‘I’msorry,but…thefood…’‘Isitnottoyourliking?’‘No,no,it’sgood.It’sverygood.But…’SitalookedintoRam’seyes.Iamyourwife.Youcanbehonestwithme.Ihaven’tmadethefoodin

anycase.Butshekeptthesethoughtsinherheadandasked,‘Yes?’‘Itneedsabitofsalt.’SitawasirritatedwiththeMithilaroyalcook.Daya!I’dtoldhimthatthecentralSaptSindhuanseat

moresaltthanusEasterners!Shepushedherplateaside,roseandclappedherhands.Anattendantrushedin.‘Getsomesaltforthe

prince,please.’Astheattendantturned,Sitaordered,‘Quickly!’Theattendantbrokeintoarun.Ramcleanedhishandwithanapkinashewaitedforthesalt.‘I’msorrytotroubleyou.’Sitafrownedasshetookherseat.‘I’myourwife,Ram.It’smydutytotakecareofyou.’He’ssoawkward…andcute…Ramsmiled.‘Umm,mayIaskyousomething?’‘Ofcourse.’‘Tellmesomethingaboutyourchildhood.’‘Youmean,beforeIwasadopted?YoudoknowthatIwasadopted,right?’‘Yes…Imean,youdon’thavetotalkaboutitifittroublesyou.’Sita smiled. ‘No, itdoesn’t troubleme,but Idon’t rememberanything. Iwas tooyoungwhen Iwas

foundbymyadoptiveparents.’Ramnodded.Willyoualsojudgemebymybirth?Sita answered the question that she thoughtwas onRam’smind. ‘So, if you askmewhomy birth-

parentsare,theshortansweristhatIdon’tknow.ButtheoneIpreferisthatIamadaughteroftheearth.’‘Birth is completely unimportant. It is just a means of entry into this world of action, into this

karmabhoomi.Karmaisallthatmatters.Andyourkarmaisdivine.’Sitasmiled.Shewascharmedbyherhusband’sabilitytoconstantlysurpriseher.Positivelysurprise

her.IcanseewhatMaharishiVashishthaseesinhim.Heisspecial…Ramwasabouttosaysomethingwhentheattendantcamerushinginwiththesalt.Headdedsometohis

foodandresumedeating.Theattendantretreatedfromtheroom.‘Youweresayingsomething,’saidSita.‘Yes,’saidRam,‘Ithinkthat…’Ram was interrupted again, this time by the doorkeeper announcing loudly, ‘The chief of the

Malayaputras, the Saptrishi Uttradhikari, the protector of the way of the Vishnus, MaharishiVishwamitra.’Sitawassurprised.WhyisGurujihere?She lookedatRam.Heshrugged.Hedidnotknowwhat thisvisitwasabout.RamandSita roseas

Vishwamitra entered the room, followed by Arishtanemi. Sita gestured to her attendant to get somewashingbowlsforRamandherself.‘Wehaveaproblem,’saidVishwamitra,notfeelingtheneedtoexchangepleasantries.Sitacursedunderherbreath.Raavan…

‘Whathappened,Guruji?’askedRam.‘Raavanismobilisingforanattack.’‘Buthedoesn’thaveanarmy,’saidRam. ‘What’shegoing todowith ten thousandbodyguards?He

can’tholdacityofevenMithila’s sizewith thatnumber.Allhe’ll achieve isgettinghismenkilled inbattle.’‘Raavanisnotalogicalman,’saidVishwamitra.‘Hisegoishurt.Hemaylosehisbodyguardcorps,

buthewillwreakhavoconMithila.’Ramlookedathiswife.SitashookherheadwithirritationandaddressedVishwamitra.‘WhoinLordRudra’snameinvitedthat

demonfortheswayamvar?Iknowitwasnotmyfather.’Vishwamitratookadeepbreathashiseyessoftened.‘That’swaterunderthebridge,Sita.Thequestion

is,whatarewegoingtodonow?’‘Whatisyourplan,Guruji?’askedRam.‘Ihavewithmesome importantmaterial thatwasminedatmyashram by theGanga. Ineeded it to

conductafewscienceexperimentsatAgastyakootam.ThiswaswhyIhadvisitedmyashram.’‘Scienceexperiments?’askedRam.‘Yes,experimentswiththedaiviastras.’Sitadrewa sharpbreath.Sheknew thepowerand ferocityof thedivineweapons. ‘Guruji, are you

suggestingthatweusedaiviastras?’Vishwamitranoddedinconfirmation.Ramspokeup.‘ButthatwilldestroyMithilaaswell.’‘No,itwon’t,’saidVishwamitra.‘Thisisnotatraditionaldaiviastra.WhatIhaveistheAsuraastra.’‘Isn’tthatabiologicalweapon?’askedRam.Deeplytroublednow.‘Yes.PoisonousgasandablastwavefromtheAsuraastrawill incapacitate theLankans,paralysing

themfordaysonend.Wecaneasilyimprisontheminthatstateandendthisproblem.’‘Justparalyse,Guruji?’askedRam.‘Ihave learnt that in largequantities, theAsuraastra cankill as

well.’Vishwamitraknewthatonlyonemancouldhavepossibly taught this toRam.Hisbest friend-turned-

foe,Vashishtha.TheChiefoftheMalayaputraswasimmediatelyirritated.‘Doyouhaveanybetterideas?’Ramfellsilent.SitalookedatRamandthenatVishwamitra.IknowexactlywhatGurujiistryingtodo.‘ButwhataboutLordRudra’slaw?’askedSita,alittleaggressively.ItwaswellknownthatLordRudra,thepreviousMahadev,hadbannedtheunauthoriseduseofdaivi

astrasmany centuries ago.Thosewhobroke the lawwouldbepunishedwithbanishment for fourteenyears,hehaddecreed.Breakingthelawforthesecondtimewouldbepunishablebydeath.TheVayuputraswouldbecompelledtoenforcetheMahadev’slaw.‘Idon’tthinkthatlawappliestotheuseoftheAsuraastra,’saidVishwamitra.‘Itisnotaweaponof

massdestruction,justmassincapacitation.’Sitanarrowedhereyes.Clearly,shewasn’tconvinced.‘Idisagree.Adaiviastraisadaiviastra.We

cannotuseitwithouttheauthorisationoftheVayuputras,LordRudra’stribe.IamaLordRudradevotee.Iwillnotbreakhislaw.’‘Doyouwanttosurrender,then?’‘Ofcoursenot!Wewillfight!’Vishwamitra laughedderisively. ‘Fight, is it?Andwho,please explain,will fightRaavan’shordes?

Thenamby-pambyintellectualsofMithila?Whatistheplan?DebatetheLankanstodeath?’‘Wehaveourpoliceforce,’saidSita,annoyedatthisdisrespectshowntoherforce.‘They’renottrainedorequippedtofightthetroopsofRaavan.’‘Wearenotfightinghistroops.Wearefightinghisbodyguardplatoons.Mypoliceforceisenoughfor

them.’‘Theyarenot.Andyouknowthat.’‘Wewillnotusethedaiviastras,Guruji,’saidSitafirmly,herfacehardening.Ram spoke up. ‘Samichi’s police force is not alone. Lakshman and I are here, and so are the

Malayaputras.We’reinsidethefort,wehavethedoublewalls;wehavethelakesurroundingthecity.WecanholdMithila.Wecanfight.’VishwamitraturnedtoRamwithasneer.‘Nonsense!Wearevastlyoutnumbered.Thedoublewalls…’

Hesnortedwithdisgust.‘Itseemsclever.ButhowlongdoyouthinkitwilltakeawarriorofRaavan’scalibretofigureoutastrategythatworksaroundthatobstacle?’‘Wewillnotusethedaiviastras,Guruji,’saidSita,raisinghervoice.‘Now,ifyouwillexcuseme,I

haveabattletopreparefor.’

‘Where isSamichi?’askedSita,surprised that theMithilaChiefofPoliceandProtocolwasnot inheroffice.Thesunhadalreadyset.SitawasmarshallingherforcesforanexpectedattackfromRaavan.Shedid

notthinkthedemonkingofLankawouldhonourtherulesofwar.Itwasquitelikelythathewouldattackatnight.Timewasoftheessence.‘My Lady,’ said an officer. ‘We don’t know where she has gone. She left immediately after your

weddingceremony.’‘Findher.Tellhertocometothefortwalls.TheBeesQuarter.’‘Yes,MyLady.’‘Right now!’ ordered Sita, clapping her hands.As the officer hurried out, Sita turned to the others.

‘Roundupalltheofficersinthecity.GetthemtotheBeesQuarter.Totheinnerwall.’As the policemen rushed out, Sitawalked out of her office tomeet her personal bodyguards— the

MalayaputrasembeddedintheMithilapoliceforce.Shecheckedtoseeiftheywereoutofearshot.Then,shewhisperedtoMakrant,aguardshehadcometotrust.‘FindCaptainJatayu.TellhimthatIwantallofyoutoprotecttheeasternsecrettunnelonourinnerwall.Heknowswhereitis.Preferably,findawaytocollapsethattunnel.’‘MyLady,doyouexpectRaavanto…’‘Yes,Ido,’interruptedSita.‘Blockthattunnel.Blockitwithinthehour.’‘Yes,MyLady.’

‘Icannotdothat!’hissedSamichi,lookingaroundtoascertainthatnobodywasnear.Akampana,unlikehisusualwell-groomedself,wasdishevelled.Theclothes,thoughexpensive,were

rumpled.Someoftheringsonhisfingersweremissing.Theknifelayprecariouslyinthescabbard,theblood-stained blade partly exposed. Samichiwas shocked. Thiswas anAkampana she did not know.Crazedandviolent.‘Youmustdoasordered,’growledAkampanasoftly.Samichiglaredangrilyattheground.Sheknewshehadnochoice.Becauseofwhathadhappenedall

thoseyearsago…‘PrincessSitacannotbehurt.’‘Youareinnopositiontomakedemands.’‘PrincessSitacannotbehurt!’snarledSamichi.‘Promiseme!’

Akampanaheldhisfiststight.Hisfuryatbreakingpoint.‘Promiseme!’Despitehisanger,AkampanaknewtheyneededSamichiiftheyweretosucceed.Henodded.Samichiturnedandhurriedoff.

Chapter23

Itwaslateatnight;thefourthhourofthefourthprahar.RamandSitahadbeenjoinedbyLakshmanandSamichiontopoftheBeesQuarter,closetotheinnerwalledge.TheentireBeesQuartercomplexhadbeen evacuated as a precautionary step. The pontoon bridge that spanned the moat-lake had beendestroyed.Mithilahadaforceoffourthousandpolicemenandpolicewomen.Enoughtomaintainlawandorder

forthehundredthousandcitizensofthesmallkingdom.ButagainsttheLankans,theywereoutnumberedfivetotwo.WouldtheybeabletothwartanattackfromtheLankanbodyguardsofRaavan?Sitabelievedtheycould.Acorneredanimalfightsbackferociously.TheMithilanswerenotfightingfor

conquest. Or wealth. Or ego. They were fighting for their lives. Fighting to save their city fromannihilation.Andthiswasnotatraditionalwarbeingfoughtonopenground.TheMithilanswerebehinddefensivewalls;doublewallsinfact;awar-battlementinnovationthathadrarelybeentriedinotherfortsintherecentpast.TheLankangeneralswereunlikelytohavewar-gamedthisscenario.Alowerratioofsoldierswasnotsuchahugedisadvantagewiththisfactorthrownin.RamandSitahadabandonedeffortstosecuretheouterwall.TheywantedRaavanandhissoldiersto

scale it and launchan assault on the innerwall; theLankanswould, then,be trappedbetween the twowalls,which theMithilanarrowswouldconvert intoakillingfield.Theyexpectedavolleyofarrowsfromtheothersidetoo.Inpreparationforwhichthepolicehadbeenaskedtocarrytheirwoodenshields,normally used for crowd control within Mithila. Lakshman had quickly taught them some basicmanoeuvrestoprotectthemselvesfromthearrows.‘WherearetheMalayaputras?’askedLakshman.Sitalookedaround,butdidnotanswer.SheknewtheMalayaputraswouldnotabandonher.Shehoped

they were carrying out last-minute parleys, laced with adequate threats and bribes, to convince theLankanstobackoff.RamwhisperedtoLakshman,‘Ithinkit’sjustus.’Lakshmanshookhisheadandspat,sayingloudly,‘Cowards.’Sitadidnotrespond.ShehadlearntinthelastfewdaysthatLakshmanwasquitehot-headed.Andshe

neededhisshorttemperinthebattlethatwastofollow.‘Look!’saidSamichi.SitaandLakshmanturnedinthedirectionthatSamichihadpointed.Torches lined the other side of the moat-lake that surrounded the outer wall of Mithila. Raavan’s

bodyguardshadworkedfeverishlythroughtheevening,choppingdowntreesfromtheforestandbuildingrowboatstocarrythemacrossthelake.Evenastheywatched,theLankansbegantopushtheirboatsintothemoat-lake.TheassaultonMithila

wasbeinglaunched.‘It’stime,’saidSita.‘Yes,’saidRam.‘Wehavemaybeanotherhalfhourbeforetheyhitourouterwall.’

Conchshells resounded through thenight,bynowrecognisedas thesignaturesoundofRaavanandhismen.Astheywatchedinthelightoftheflickeringflamesoftorches,theLankansproppedgiantladdersagainsttheouterwallsofMithila.‘Theyarehere,’saidRam.Sitaturnedtohermessengerandnodded.MessageswererelayedquicklydownthelinetotheMithilapolice-soldiers.Sitaexpectedashowerof

arrowsfromRaavan’sarchers.TheLankanswouldfiretheirarrowsonlyaslongastheirsoldierswereoutsidetheouterwall.TheshootingwouldstopthemomenttheLankansclimbedover.Thearcherswouldnotriskhittingtheirownmen.Aloudwhooshheraldedthereleaseofthearrows.‘Shields!’shoutedSita.TheMithilans immediatelyraisedtheirshields.Readyfor theLankanarrowsthatwereabout torain

downonthem.Sita’s instincts kicked in.Something’swrongwith the sound. It’s too strong even for thousandsof

arrows.Somethingmuchlargerhasbeenfired.Hidingbehindhershield,shelookedatRam.Shesensedthathetoowastroubled.Theirinstinctswereright.Hugemissiles rammed through theMithilan defenceswithmassive force.Desperate cries of agony

alongwithsickeningthudswereheardasshieldswererippedthrough.ManyintheMithilanrankswerebroughtdowninaflash.‘Whatisthat?’screamedLakshman,hidingbehindhisshield.SitasawRam’swoodenshieldsnapintotwopiecesasamissiletorethroughitlikeahotknifethrough

butter.Itmissedhimbyahair’sbreadth.Spears!Theirwoodenshieldswereaprotectionagainstarrows,notlargespears.Howcanspearsbeflungtothisdistance?!Thefirstvolleywasover.Sitaknewtheyhadbutafewmomentsbeforethenextone.Sheloweredher

shieldandlookedaround,justasRamdid.SheheardRamexclaim,‘LordRudra,bemerciful…’Thedestructionwas severe.At least aquarterof theMithilanswereeitherdeadorheavily injured,

impaledonmassivespearsthathadbrutallyrippedthroughtheirshieldsandbodies.RamlookedatSita.‘Anothervolleywillbefiredanymoment!Intothehouses!’‘Intothehouses!’shoutedSita.‘Intothehouses!’repeatedthelieutenants,aseverybodyrantowardsthedoors,liftedthem,andjumped

in.Itwasamostdisorganisedretreat,butitwaseffective.Inafewminutes,practicallyeverysurvivingMithilanpolicesoldierhadjumpedtosafetywithinthehouses.Asthedoorsclosed,thevolleyofspearsresumedontheroofsoftheBeesQuarter.Afewstragglerswerekilledastherestmadeittosafety;fornow.Assoonastheyweresecurewithinahouse,RampulledSitaaside.LakshmanandSamichifollowed.

Samichi looked ashen-faced and nervous as she stood behind her princess, helplessly rubbing herforehead.Sitawasbreathinghard,hereyesflittinglike thatofacorneredtigress,angerburstingthroughevery

pore.‘Whatnow?’RamaskedSita.‘Raavan’ssoldiersmustbescalingtheouterwalls.Theywillbeuponus

soon.There’snoonetostopthem.’Sitahadrunoutofideas.Shefelthelpless.Andlivid.Dammit!‘Sita?’promptedRam.

Sita’seyessuddenlyopenedwide.‘Thewindows!’‘What?’askedSamichi,surprisedbyherprimeminister.Sita immediately gathered her lieutenants around her. She ordered that thewood-panel seals on the

windowsofthehousesbebrokenopen;theonesthatsharedtheinnerfortwall.The Bees Quarter windows overlooked the ground between the two fort walls. Sita had found her

vantagepoint.ArrowswouldbefiredatthechargingLankans,afterall.‘Brilliant!’shoutedLakshman,asherushedtoabarricadedwindow.Hepulledbackhisarm,flexedhis

muscles,andpunchedhardatthewood.Smashingthebarricadewithonemightyblow.All the houses in this section of theBeesQuarterwere internally connected through corridors. The

messagetravelledrapidly.Withinmoments, theMithilanssmashedopenthesealedwindowsandbeganfiring arrows. The Lankans were caught between the outer and inner wall. They had expected noresistance.Caughtoffguard,thearrowsshreddedthroughtheirlines.Thelosseswereheavy.TheMithilansfiredarrowswithoutrespite,killingasmanyoftheLankansastheycould.Slowingthe

chargedramatically.Suddenly, theconchshells sounded; this time itwasadifferent tune.TheLankansimmediatelyturnedandran,retreatingasrapidlyastheyhadarrived.AloudcheerwentupfromtheMithilanquarters.Theyhadbeatenbackthefirstattack.

Ram,Sita,andLakshmanstoodontheroofoftheBeesQuarterasdawnbrokethrough.ThegentleraysofthesunfellontheharshdevastationofLankanspears.Thedamagewasheart-rending.SitastaredatthemutilatedMithilancorpsesstrewnallaroundher;headshangingbysinewtobodies,

somewiththeirgutsspilledout.Manysimplyimpaledonspears,havingbledtodeath.‘Atleastathousandofmysoldiers…’‘Wetoohavehitthemhard,Bhabhi,’saidLakshmantohissister-in-law.‘Thereareatleastathousand

deadLankanslyingbetweentheinnerandouterwall.’SitalookedatLakshman,hereyesbrimmingwithtears.‘Yes,buttheyhaveninethousandleft.Wehave

onlythreethousand.’Ram surveyed the Lankan camp on the other side of the moat-lake. Sita’s gaze followed his eyes.

Hospital-tents had been set up to tend to the injured.Many Lankans, though, were furiously at work;hackingtreesandpushingtheforestlinefartherwithmathematicalprecision.Clearly,theydidnotintendtoretreattoLanka.‘Theywill be better prepared next time,’ saidRam. ‘If theymanage to scale the innerwall… it’s

over.’SitaplacedherhandonRam’sshoulderandsighedasshestaredattheground.Sheseemedtogather

strengthfromthesimpletouch.Itwaslikeshehadadependableallynow.Sitaturnedaroundandlookedtowardshercity.Hereyesrestedonthesteepleofthemassivetemple

dedicated to LordRudra,which loomed beyond the garden of theBeesQuarter. Fierce determinationblazedfromhereyes,resolvepouringsteelintoherveins.‘It’s not over yet. I’ll call upon the citizens to joinme. Even ifmy people stand herewith kitchen

knives,wewilloutnumbertheLankanscumtentoone.Wecanfightthem.’SitacouldfeelRam’sshouldermusclestensingunderhertouch.Shelookedathiseyes.Shesawonly

confidenceandtrust.Hebelievesinme.Hetrustsmetohandlethis.Iwillhandlethis.Iwillnotfail.Sitanodded, likeshehadmadeuphermind.Andrushedaway,signallingsomeofher lieutenants to

followher.RamandLakshmanfollowedhertoo,tryingtokeeppace.Sheturnedaround.‘No.Pleasestayhere.I

need someone I can trust, someonewhounderstandswar, to stay here and rally the forces in case theLankanslaunchasurpriseattack.’Lakshmantriedtoargue,butfellsilentatasignalfromRam.‘Wewillstayhere,Sita,’saidRam.‘NoLankanwillenter thecityas longaswearestandinghere.

Rallytheothersquickly.’SitasmiledandtouchedRam’shand.Thensheturnedandran.

Thethirdhourofthesecondpraharwasalmostending.Itwasthreehoursbeforenoon,incleardaylight.Butthislighthadnotblessedthecity’sresidentswithmorewisdom.ThenewsofthedeathofoveronethousandcourageousMithilanpolicemen,and thedevastationof thebattleat theBeesQuarter,hadnotstirredthecitizenstoanger.Talesoftheoutnumberedandunder-equippedMithilanpolice,ledbyPrimeMinister Sita, heroically fighting back the Lankans, had not inspired them. In fact, talks of surrender,compromiseandnegotiationswereintheair.Sitahadgatheredthelocalleadersinthemarketsquareinanefforttorallyacitizenarmytofightback

the Lankans. This had been a few hours ago. That the rich would not think of risking their lives orproperty for theirmotherlandwasn’t surprising. It was shocking, though, that even the poor, who hadbenefitedgreatlyfromSunaina’sandthenSita’sreforms,didnotfeeltheneedtofightfortheirkingdom.Sitathoughtshewouldburstacapillaryinutterfury,listeningtotheargumentsbeingputforthbyher

fellowMithilans;excusestogiveamoralveneertotheircowardice.‘Wemustbepragmatic…’‘Wehaven’temergedfrompoverty,earnedallthismoney,ensuredgoodeducationforourchildren,

builtproperty,tojustloseitallinonewar…’‘Seriously,hasviolenceeversolvedanyproblem?Weshouldpractiselove,notwar…’‘Warisjustapatriarchal,upper-classconspiracy…’‘TheLankansarealsohumanbeingslikeus.Iamsuretheywilllisten,ifwetalktothem…’‘Really, isourconscienceclean?Wecansayallwewantabout theLankans,butdidn’twe insult

EmperorRaavanattheswayamvar…’‘What’s thebigdeal ifsomanypoliceofficersdied?It’s their jobtoprotectus.Anddie forus.It

isn’tasiftheyaredoingthisforfree.Whatdowepaytaxesfor?Speakingoftaxes,Lankaapparentlyhasmuchlowertaxrates…’‘IthinkweshouldnegotiatewiththeLankans.Let’svoteonthat…’Attheendofhertether,SitahadevenaskedJanakandUrmila tohelpherrouse thecitizenry.Janak,

respectedasa saintly figureby theMithilans, triedhisbest tourge them to fight.Tonoavail.Urmila,popularamongthewomen,hadnoimpacteither.Sita’s fistswere clenched tight. Shewas about to launch into an angry tirade against the cowardly

citizenrywhenshefeltahandonhershoulder.SheturnedaroundtofindSamichistandingthere.Sitaquicklypulledheraside.‘Well,wherearethey?’Samichi had been dispatched to find Vishwamitra or Arishtanemi. Sita refused to believe that the

Malayaputras would abandon her at a time like this, especially when her city was threatened withannihilation.Shewassure theyknewshewoulddiewithhercity.Andshealsoknewthathersurvivalmatteredtothem.‘Ihavesearchedeverywhere,Sita,’saidSamichi.‘Ican’tfindthemanywhere.’Sitalookeddownandcursedunderherbreath.Samichiswallowedhard.‘Sita…’

Sitalookedatherfriend.‘Iknowyoudon’twanttohearthis,butwe’releftwithnochoice.WemustnegotiatewiththeLankans.

IfwecangetLordRaavanto…’Sita’seyesflaredupinanger.‘Youwillnotsaysuchthingsinmy…’Sitastoppedmid-sentenceasaloudsoundwasheardfromtheBeesQuarter.Therewere someexplosions froma sectionof the roofof theBeesQuarter, hidden fromwhere the

battlewiththeLankanshadtakenplacejustafewhoursago.Afewsecondslater,asmallmissileflewupfromthesamesection.Itspedoffinamightyarc,movingfartherandfartherawayinafewshortseconds.Towardsthecitymoat,whereSitaknewtheLankanswerecamped.Everyoneinthemarketsquarewastransfixed,theireyesgluedinthesamedirection.Butnonehadany

ideaofwhathadjusthappened.None,exceptSita.She immediately understood what the Malayaputras had been up to all night. What they had been

preparing.Whattheyhaddone.TheAsuraastra.Asthemissileflewhighabovethemoat-lake,therewasaflashofaminordetonation.TheAsuraastra

hoveredforaninstantabovetheLankancamp.Andthenexplodeddramatically.ThespectatorsinMithilasawabrightgreenflashoflightemergefromthesplinteredmissile.Itburst

withfuriousintensity,likeaflashoflightning.Fragmentsoftheexplodedmissilewereseenfallingdown.As they witnessed this terrifying scene play out in the sky, the ear-shattering sound of the main

explosion shook the verywalls ofMithila.Right up to themarket squarewhere the citizens had beendebatingthemselvestoparalysisafewmomentsback.TheMithilanscoveredtheirearsinshock.Somebegantoprayformercy.Aneeriesilencefellonthegathering.ManycoweringMithilanslookedaroundindazedconfusion.ButSitaknewMithilahadbeensaved.Shealsoknewwhatwouldfollow.Devastationhadfallenon

Raavan and his fellow Lankans. They would be paralysed. In a deep state of coma. For days, if notweeks.Someofthemwouldevendie.Buthercitywassafe.Ithadbeensaved.AfterthereversalatthebattleoftheBeesQuarter,perhapsthishadbeentheonlywaytostopRaavan’s

hordes.As relief coursed throughher veins, shewhispered softly, ‘LordRudra, bless theMalayaputras and

GuruVishwamitra.’Then,likeaboltfromtheblue,herelationsuddenlyevaporated.Rawpanicenteredherheart.WhohadfiredtheAsuraastra?SheknewthatanAsuraastrahadtobefiredfromasubstantialdistance.Andonlyanextremelycapable

archercoulddososuccessfully.Therewerejust threepeople inMithilarightnowwhocouldshootanarrowfromthedistancerequiredtoigniteandlaunchanAsuraastra.Vishwamitra,Arishtanemiand…Ram…Please…No…LordRudra,havemercy.SitabegansprintingtowardstheBeesQuarter.FollowedbySamichiandherbodyguards.

Chapter24

SitaboundedupthestairwayoftheBeesQuarter,threestepsatatime.Agrim-facedSamichifollowedclosebehind.Shewasupontheroofinnotime.Evenfromthedistance,shecouldseethedevastationintheLankancamp.Thousands layproneon theground.Deathlysilent.DemoniccloudsofgreenviscousgashadspreadlikeashroudovertheparalysedLankans.Therewasnotawhisper in theair.Thehumanshadfallensilent.Sohadtheanimals.Thebirdshad

stoppedchirping.Thetreesdidnotstir.Eventhewindhaddieddown.Allinsheerterrorofthefiendishweaponthathadjustbeenunleashed.Theonlysoundwasasteady,dreadfulhiss,likethebattle-cryofagiganticsnake.Itwasthesoundof

the thickviscousgreengas thatcontinued tobeemitted fromthe fragmentsof theexplodedAsuraastramissilethathadfallentotheground.SitaheldherRudraakshpendantinfear.LordRudra,havemercy.ShesawArishtanemiandtheMalayaputrasstandinginahuddle.Sheranuptothem.‘Whoshotit?’demandedSita.Arishtanemimerelybowedhisheadandsteppedaside;and,RamcameintoSita’sview.Herhusband

wastheonlyoneholdingabow.VishwamitrahadmanagedtopressureRamintofiringtheAsuraastra.Andthus,breakingLordRudra’s

law.SitacursedloudlyassherantowardsRam.Vishwamitra smiled as he saw her approach. ‘Sita, it is all taken care of! Raavan’s forces are

destroyed.Mithilaissafe!’SitaglaredatVishwamitra,toofuriousforwords.Sherantoherhusbandandembracedhim.AshockedRamdroppedhisbow.Theyhadneverembraced.

Untilnow.Sheheldhimtight.Shecouldfeelhisheartbeatpickupspeed.Buthishandsremainedbyhisside.He

didnotembraceherback.Shepulledherheadbackandsawasolitaryteartrickledownherhusband’sface.Guiltgnawedather.SheknewRamhadbeenforcedtocommitasin.Forcedduetohisloveforher.

Forceddue tohis senseofduty,whichcompelledhim toprotect the innocent:ThecitizensofMithila,eveniftheywereselfishandcowardly.SheheldRamandlookeddeepintohisemptyeyes.Herfacewascreasedwithconcern.‘Iamwithyou,

Ram.’Ramremainedsilent.Buthisexpressionhadchanged.Hiseyesdidn’thaveanempty lookanymore.

Insteadtheyhadadreamysparkle,asifhewerelostinanotherworld.OhLordRudra,givemethestrengthtohelphim.Tohelpthismagnificentman.Sufferingbecauseof

me.SitacontinuedtoholdRaminatightembrace.‘Iamwithyou,Ram.Wewillhandlethistogether.’Ramclosedhiseyes.Hewrappedhisarmsaroundhiswife.Herestedhisheadonhershoulder.She

couldhearhimreleaseadeep,longbreath.Likehehadfoundhisrefuge.Hissanctuary.Sita lookedoverherhusband’sshoulderandglaredatVishwamitra. Itwasafearsomelook, like the

wrathfulfuryoftheMotherGoddess.Vishwamitraglaredrightback,unrepentant.Aloudsounddisturbedthemall.TheylookedbeyondthewallsofMithila.Raavan’sPushpakVimaan

wassputteringtolife.Itsgiantrotorbladeshadbeguntospin.Thesounditmadewaslikethatofagiantmonster cutting the airwith his enormous sword.Withinmoments the rotors picked up speed and theconical flyingvehicle rose from theearth. Ithovered justa fewfeetabove theground;pushingagainstinertia,againsttheearth’simmensepullofgravity.Then,withagreatburstofsoundandenergy,itsoaredintothesky.AwayfromMithila.AndthedevastationoftheAsuraastra.Raavanhadsurvived.Raavanhadescaped.

Thefollowingday,amakeshiftAyuralaywassetupoutsidethecity.TheLankansoldierswerehousedinlarge tents. The Malayaputras trained the Mithilan doctors to tend to those who had been renderedcomatosebythelethalweapon.Tokeepthemalivetilltheynaturallyemergedfromthecoma;afewdaysormaybeevenafewweekslater.Somewouldneversurfaceandpassawayintheirsleep.Sita sat inheroffice, contemplatingMithila’sgovernanceafterher impendingdeparture toAyodhya.

TherewastoomuchtotakecareofandtheconversationwithSamichiwasnothelping.Thepoliceandprotocolchiefstoodbeforeher,shakinglikealeaf.Sitahadneverseenherfriendso

nervous.Shewasclearlypetrified.‘Don’tworry,Samichi.I’llsaveRam.Nothingwillhappentohim.Hewon’tbepunished.’Samichi shook her head. Something else was on her mind. She spoke in a quivering voice. ‘Lord

Raavansurvived…theLankans…willcomeback…Mithila,you,I…we’refinished…’‘Don’tbesilly.Nothingwillhappen.TheLankanshavebeentaughtalessontheywillnotforgetina

hurry…’‘Theywillremember…Theyalwaysremember…Ayodhya…Karachapa…Chilika…’SitaheldSamichibyhershouldersandsaidloudly,‘Pullyourselftogether.What’sthematterwithyou?

Nothingwillhappen!’Samichifellsilent.Sheheldherhandstogetherinsupplication.Praying.Sheknewwhatshehadtodo.

Shewouldappealformercy.TotheTrueLord.SitastaredatSamichiandshookherhead.Disappointed.ShehaddecidedtoleaveSamichiincharge

ofMithila,underthetitularruleofherfather,Janak.Ensuringthattherewouldbecontinuityinleadership.Butnow,shebegantowonderwhetherSamichiwasreadyforadditionalresponsibilities.Shehadneverseenherfriendsorattledbefore.

‘Arishtanemiji,pleasedon’tmakemedothis,’pleadedKushadhwaj.ArishtanemiwasinthesectionoftheMithilaPalaceallottedtoKushadhwaj,thekingofSankashya.‘Youwillhaveto,’saidArishtanemi,dangerouslysoft.Thesteelinhisvoiceunmistakable.‘Weknow

exactlywhathappened.HowRaavancamehere…’Kushadhwajswallowednervously.‘Mithilaisprecioustoallwholovewisdom,’saidArishtanemi.‘Wewillnotallowittobedestroyed.

Youwillhavetopayforwhatyoudid.’‘ButifIsignthisproclamation,Raavan’sassassinswilltargetme…’‘And if you don’t, we will target you,’ said Arishtanemi, stepping uncomfortably close, menace

drippingfromhiseyes.‘Trustme,wewillmakeitfarmorepainful.’

‘Arishtanemiji…’‘Enough.’ Arishtanemi grabbed the royal Sankashya seal and pressed it on the proclamation sheet,

leavingitsimprint.‘It’sdone…’Kushadhwajsaggedonhisseat,sweatingprofusely.‘ItwillbeissuedinthenameofKingJanakandyou,YourMajesty,’saidArishtanemi,ashebowedhis

headinmockservility.Thenheturnedandwalkedout.

KingJanakandhisbrother,KingKushadhwaj,hadauthorisedtheimprisonmentoftheLankanprisonersofwar left behind byRaavan.Vishwamitra and hisMalayaputras had promised that theywould take theLankan prisoners with them when they left for Agastyakootam. The sage intended to negotiate withRaavanonMithila’sbehalf,guaranteeingthekingdom’ssafetyinreturnforthereleaseoftheprisonersofwar.This news had been greeted with relief by the Mithilans, and not the least, Samichi. They were

petrified of the demonking ofLanka,Raavan.But now, the people feltmore at ease knowing that theMalayaputraswouldensurethattheLankansbackedoff.‘We’releavingtomorrow,Sita,’saidArishtanemi.Themilitarychiefof theMalayaputrashadcometoSita’schambertospeakwithherinprivate.Sita

hadrefusedtomeetVishwamitrasincethedayRamhadfiredthedaiviastra.SitafoldedherhandstogetherintoarespectfulNamasteandbowedherhead.‘MayLordParshuRam

andLordRudrablessyouwithasafejourney.’‘Sita,Iamsureyouareawarethatthetimetomaketheannouncementdrawsclose…’ArishtanemiwasreferringtothedeclarationthatwouldpubliclyannounceSita’sstatusastheVishnu.

Onceitwasmade,notjusttheMalayaputras,butthewholeofIndiawouldrecogniseherasthesaviourwhowouldleadthepeopleofthislandtoanewwayoflife.‘Itcannothappennow.’Arishtanemitriedtocontrolhisfrustration.‘Sita,youcan’tbesostubborn.Wehadtodowhatwedid.’‘Youcouldhavefired theAsuraastra,Arishtanemiji. In fact,Guruji couldhave fired it aswell.The

Vayuputras would have understood. They would have even seen it as aMalayaputra effort to protectthemselves.ButyousetRamup…’‘Hevolunteered,Sita.’‘R-i-g-h-t…’ said Sita, sarcastically. She had already heard fromLakshman howVishwamitra had

emotionallyblackmailedRamintofiringthedivineweapon,exhortinghimtoprotecthiswife’scity.‘Sita,haveyou forgottenwhat stateMithilawas in?Youarenotappreciating the fact thatwesaved

your city. You are not even appreciating the fact that Guru Vishwamitra will handle the crisis withRaavan,ensuringthatyoudonotfaceanyretaliationafterwhathappenedhere.Seriously,whatmoredoyouexpect?’‘Iwouldhaveexpectedyoutobehavewith…’Arishtanemi interrupted Sita, guessing what she would have said. ‘Honour? Behave with honour?

Don’tbechildish,Sita.WhatIhavealwayslikedaboutyouisthefactthatyouarepractical.Youarenottaken by silly theoretical ideas. You know you can do a lot for India. You must agree to make theannouncementofyourVishnuhood…’Sitaraisedaneyebrow.‘Iwasn’ttalkingabouthonour.Iwastalkingaboutwisdom.’‘Sita…’growledArishtanemi,clenchinghisfists.Hetookadeepbreathtocontrolhimself.‘Wisdom

dictated thatwe not fire theAsuraastra. There are…We have enough problemswith theVayuputras

already.Thiswouldhavefurthercomplicatedourrelationship.IthadtobeRam.’‘Right,’saidSita.‘IthadtobeRam…’IssheworriedaboutRambeingpunishedforfiringtheAsuraastra?‘Ramwill not be banished, Sita. TheAsuraastra is not a weapon of mass destruction. Guruji has

alreadytoldyou.WecanmanagetheVayuputras…’ArishtanemiknewtheVayuputraslikedRamandwouldprobablyagreetowaivethepunishmentforthe

eldestprinceofAyodhya.Andiftheydidn’t…Well,theMalayaputraswouldn’tbetootroubledbythat.TheirmainconcernwasSita.OnlySita.‘Rambelievesthatheshouldbepunished,’saidSita.‘Itisthelaw.’‘Then,tellhimtogrowupandnotbesilly.’‘TryandunderstandRam,Arishtanemiji.Iamnotsureyourealisehowimportantamanlikethatisfor

India.Hecantransformusintolaw-abidingcitizens.Hecanleadbyexample.Hecandoalotofgood.Ihavetravelledthelengthandbreadthofthiscountry.Idon’tthinktherulingnobility,includingyourselves,understandthesimmeringangeramongthecommonfolkagainst theelite.Ram,bysubjectinghimselftothesame laws thatapply to them, increases thecredibilityof theestablishment.PeoplewilleventuallylistentoamessagedeliveredbyRam.’Arishtanemishiftedonhisfeet,impatiently.‘Thisisapointlessconversation,Sita.TheMalayaputras,

theonlyonesauthorisedtorecogniseaVishnu,havechosenyou.That’sit.’Sitasmiled.‘Indiansdon’ttakekindlytochoicesimposedfromabove.Thisisacountryofrebels.The

peoplehavetoacceptmeastheVishnu.’Arishtanemiremainedsilent.‘Perhapsyoudidn’tunderstandthepointIwastryingtomakeearlieraboutwisdom,’saidSita.Arishtanemifrowned.‘I suppose theMalayaputraswant tokeepRaavan alive till, at some stage, I kill himandhence am

acceptedbyallSaptSindhuans.Whowoulddenyaleaderwhodeliversthemfromtheirmosthatedenemy…Raavan.’Arishtanemi’s eyes widened, as he understood what Sita was saying. The Malayaputras had just

committedamajorblunder.Thattooonastrategythattheyhadbeenplanningfordecades.‘Yes,Arishtanemiji.YouthoughtyouweresettingRamupforpunishment.Butinstead,youhavemade

him intoahero for thecommonman.TheentireSaptSindhuhassufferedRaavan’seconomicsqueeze.AndtheynowseeRamastheirsaviour.’Arishtanemifellsilent.‘Arishtanemiji,sometimes,atoo-clever-by-halfplancanbackfire,’saidSita.

Sitalookedatherhusbandasherodebesideher.LakshmanandUrmilarodebehindthem.Lakshmanwastalkingnonstopwithhiswifeasshegazedathimearnestly.Urmila’sthumbkeptplayingwiththemassivediamond ring on her left forefinger; an expensive gift from her husband.Behind themwere a hundredMithilansoldiers.AnotherhundredsoldiersrodeaheadofRamandSita.TheconvoywasonitswaytoSankashya,fromwhereitwouldsailtoAyodhya.Ram,Sita,Lakshman,andUrmilahadsetofffromMithilatwoweeksaftertheAsuraastralaidwaste

the Lankan camp. True to their word, Vishwamitra and his Malayaputras had left for their capital,Agastyakootam,takingtheLankanprisonerswith them.TheywouldnegotiatewithRaavanonMithila’sbehalf, guaranteeing the kingdom’s safety in return for the release of the prisoners of war. TheMalayaputras had also taken the bow of Lord Rudra, the Pinaka, which had been their treasure forcenturies.ItwouldbereturnedtoSitawhenshetookontheroleoftheVishnu.

NotingSamichi’s improvedstateofmind,once theLankanproblemhadbeen takencareof,SitahadmadeherfriendMithila’sdefactoprimeminister.ShewouldworkinconsultationwithacounciloffivecityeldersestablishedbySita.Ofcourse,allundertheguidanceofKingJanak.‘Ram…’Ramturnedtohiswifewithasmileashepulledhishorseclosetohers.‘Yes?’‘Areyousureaboutthis?’Ramnodded.Therewasnodoubtinhismind.Sitawasimpressedandworriedatthesametime.Hetrulydidlivebythelaw.‘ButyouarethefirstinagenerationtodefeatRaavan.And,itwasn’treallyadaiviastra.Ifyou—’Ramfrowned.‘That’satechnicality.Andyouknowit.’Sitapausedforafewsecondsandcontinued.‘Sometimes,tocreateaperfectworld,aleaderhastodo

whatisnecessaryatthetime;evenifitmaynotappeartobethe‘right’thingtodointheshortterm.Inthelongrun,aleaderwhohasthecapacitytoupliftthemassesmustnotdenyhimselfthatopportunity.Hehasadutytonotmakehimselfunavailable.Atrueleaderwilleventakeasinuponhissoulforthegoodofhispeople.’Ram looked atSita.He seemeddisappointed. ‘I havedone that already, haven’t I?Thequestion is,

shouldIbepunishedforitornot?ShouldIdopenanceforit?IfIexpectmypeopletofollowthelaw,somust I.A leader is not just onewho leads.Hemust also be a rolemodel.Hemust practisewhat hepreaches,Sita.’Sita smiled. ‘Well,LordRudra had said: “A leader is not just onewhogives his peoplewhat they

want.Hemustalsobetheonewhoteacheshispeopletobebetterthantheyimaginedthemselvestobe.”’Ramsmiledtoo.‘AndI’msureyouwilltellmeLadyMohini’sresponsetothisaswell.’Sita laughed. ‘Yes.LadyMohini said that people have their limitations.A leader should not expect

morefromthemthanwhattheyarecapableof.Ifyoustretchthembeyondtheircapacity,theywillbreak.’Ramshookhishead.HedidnotagreewiththegreatLadyMohini.Ramexpectedpeopletoriseabove

theirlimitationsandbetterthemselves;foronlythenwasanidealsocietypossible.Buthedidn’tvoicehisdisagreementaloud.HeknewthatSitapassionatelyrespectedLadyMohini.‘Are you sure? Fourteen years outside the boundaries of the Sapt Sindhu?’ Sita looked at Ram

seriously,returningtotheoriginaldiscussion.Ramnodded.‘IbrokeLordRudra’slaw.Andthisishisstatedpunishment.Itdoesn’tmatterwhether

theVayuputraspasstheordertopunishmeornot.Itdoesn’tmatterwhethermypeoplesupportmeornot.Imustservemysentence.’Shesmiled.Hewillnotstray.Heistrulyincredible.HowdidhesurviveinAyodhyaalltheseyears?Sitaleanedtowardshimandwhispered,‘We…notI.’Ramfrowned.SitareachedoutandplacedherpalmonRam’shand.‘YousharemyfateandIshareyours.Thatiswhat

a truemarriage is.’ She entwined her fingers through his. ‘Ram, I am your wife.We will always betogether;ingoodtimesandbad;throughthickandthin.’Wewillcomebackinfourteenyears.Stronger.Morepowerful.TheVishnuhoodcanwaittillthen.Shehadalreadydecided that shewouldaskJatayu for largequantitiesof the legendarySomras, the

anti-ageing medicine created by the great Indian scientist, Brahma, many millennia ago. She wouldadminister themedicine toRam and herself to retain their vitality and youth in their fourteen years ofexile.Sothatwhentheyreturned,theywouldbereadyforthetaskahead.ReadytochangeIndia.Sherememberedalineshehadread.AlinesupposedlyspokenbyLadyVarahi,thethirdVishnu.India

willrise,butnotforselfishreasons.ItwillriseforDharma…FortheGoodofall.ShelookedatRamandsmiled.Ramsqueezedherhand.Hishorsesnortedandquickeneditspace.Rampulledbackthereinsgently,

keepingitinstepwithhiswife’ssteed.

Chapter25

ThetwoyoungcouplessailedintotheAyodhyaporttoanoverwhelmingsight.ItwasasifallofAyodhyahadsteppedoutoftheirhomestogreetthem.SitahadenjoyedherconversationswithRamduringtheirjourney.Theyhadbrainstormedonhowbest

anempirecanbeorganisedfor thegoodof thepeople.Shehadspokenabout theconcept that thestatecompulsorily adopt young children to break the evils of the birth-based caste system. Sita had notmentioned that she had grown to believe in the idea relatively recently; or that it was originallyVishwamitra’sidea.RamdidnotlikeortrusttheMaharishi.Whytaintagoodideawiththatdislike?Theyhadalso spokenabout theSomrasmass-manufacturing technologydevelopedbyGuruVashishtha.RambelievedthattheSomrasshouldeitherbemadeavailabletoallornone.SincetakingawaytheSomrasmightbedifficult,hesuggestedthatVashishtha’stechnologybeusedtomakeitavailabletoall.Enjoyableas thoseconversationshadbeen,Sitaknewtheywouldprobablynotfindthetimetohave

moreofthemforawhile.RamhadhisworkcutoutinAyodhya.Tobeginwith,hehadtoensurethathewasnotstoppedfromgoingonexile.And,ofcourse,healsohadtoexplainhismarriagetotheadoptedprincessofthepowerlesskingdomofMithila.JatayuhadquippedtoSita,thathadtheAyodhyansknownthatshewastheVishnu,theywouldhaverealisedthatRamhadmarriedup!Sitahadsimplysmiledanddismissedhisobservation.Standing at the ship’s balustrade, Sita looked at the grand, yet crumbling, port of Ayodhya. It was

severaltimeslargerthantheSankashyaport.Sheobservedthebarricadedman-madechannelthatallowedthe waters of the Sarayu River to flow into the massive Grand Canal that surrounded Ayodhya, theunconquerablecity.Thecanalhadbeenbuiltafewcenturiesago,duringthereignofEmperorAyutayus,bydrawinginthe

watersofthefeistySarayuRiver.Itsdimensionswerealmostcelestial.Stretchingoverfiftykilometres,itcircumnavigatedthethirdandoutermostwallofthecityofAyodhya.Itwasenormousinbreadthaswell,extendingtoabouttwo-and-a-halfkilometresacrossthebanks.Itsstoragecapacitywassomassivethatforthefirstfewyearsofitsconstruction,manykingdomsdownriverhadcomplainedofwatershortages.TheirobjectionshadbeencrushedwithbruteforcebythepowerfulAyodhyanwarriors.Oneofthemainpurposesofthiscanalwasmilitaristic.Itwas,inasense,amoat.Tobefair,itcould

becalledtheMoatofMoats,protectingthecityfromallsides.Prospectiveattackerswouldhavetorowacrossamoatwithriver-likedimensions.Thefoolswouldbeoutintheopen,vulnerabletoabarrageofmissilesfromthehighwallsoftheunconquerablecity.Fourbridgesspannedthecanalinthefourcardinaldirections.Theroadsthatemergedfromthesebridgesledintothecitythroughfourmassivegatesintheoutermostwall:NorthGate,EastGate, SouthGate andWestGate.Each bridgewas divided into twosections.Eachsectionhaditsowntoweranddrawbridge,thusofferingtwolevelsofdefenceatthecanalitself.Even so, to consider thisGrandCanal amere defensive structurewas to do it a disservice. It also

workedasaneffectiveflood-controlmechanism,aswaterfromthetempestuousSarayucouldbeledinthrough control-gates. Floodswere a recurrent problem in India. Furthermore, its placid surfacemadedrawingwater relativelyeasy,ascompared to taking itdirectly from the feistySarayu.Smallercanalsradiated out of theGrandCanal into the hinterland ofAyodhya, increasing the productivity of farming

dramatically.Theincreaseinagriculturalyieldallowedmanyfarmerstofreethemselvesfromthetoiloftillingtheland.OnlyafewwereenoughtofeedthemassivepopulationoftheentirekingdomofKosala.This surplus labour transformed into a large army, trainedby talentedgenerals into a brilliant fightingunit. The army conquered more and more of the surrounding lands, till the great Lord Raghu, thegrandfatherofthepresentEmperorDashrath,finallysubjugatedtheentireSaptSindhu;thus,becomingtheChakravartiSamratorUniversalEmperor.Dashrathtoohadbuiltonthisproudlegacy,conqueringfarandwidetobecomeaChakravartiSamrat

aswell.ThatwasuntilthedemonofLanka,Raavan,destroyedthecombinedmightoftheSaptSindhuanarmiesatKarachapaaroundtwentyyearsago.ThesubsequentpunitivetradeleviesthatRaavanhadimposedonallthekingdomsoftheSaptSindhu,

andmostlyonAyodhya,hadsucked the treasurydry. It showed in thecrumblinggrandeurof theGrandCanalanditssurroundingstructures.Despiteitsobviouslyfadingglory,AyodhyaoverwhelmedSita.Thecitywasbiggerthananyotherin

theSaptSindhu.Eveninitsdecline,AyodhyawasmanytimesgranderthanherMithila.ShehadvisitedAyodhyainthepast,butincognito.Thiswasthefirsttimeshewasvisibletoall.Beinggawkedat.Beingjudged.Shecouldseeit in theeyesof thenoblesandcitizenrystandingatadistance,heldbackbytheAyodhyaroyalbodyguards.Thegangplankhit theport deckwith a loudbang, clearinghermindof theprofusionof thoughts.A

rakishlyhandsomemanwasboundinguptheplank.HewasshorterthanRambutfarmoremuscular.ThismustbeBharat.Hewas closely followed by a diminutive, immaculately attiredmanwith calm, intelligent eyes.He

walkedwithslow,measuredsteps.Shatrughan…‘Dada!’holleredBharat,asheranuptoRamandembracedhim.SitacouldseewhyRadhikahadfallenforBharat.Hehadobviouscharisma.‘Mybrother,’smiledRam,asheembracedBharat.AsBharatsteppedbackandembracedLakshman,Shatrughanquietlyembracedhiseldestbrother.Withinaflash,thefourbrotherswerefacingSitaandUrmila.Ramheldhishandoutandsaidwithsimplepride,‘Thisismywife,Sita,andnexttoherisLakshman’s

wife,Urmila.’Shatrughan smiledwarmly and folded his hands together. ‘Namaste. It is an honour tomeet both of

you.’BharatsmackedShatrughanonhisstomach.‘Youaretooformal,Shatrughan.’Hesteppedforwardand

embracedUrmila.‘Welcometothefamily.’Urmilasmiled,hernervousnessdissipatingabit.ThenBharatsteppedtowardshiseldersister-in-law,Sita,andheldherhands.‘Ihaveheardalotabout

you,Bhabhi…Ialwaysthoughtitwouldbeimpossibleformybrothertofindawomanbetterthanhim.’HelookedatRam,grinnedandturnedhisattentionbacktoher.‘Butmydadahasalwayshadtheabilitytomanagetheimpossible.’Sitalaughedsoftly.Bharatembracedhissister-in-law.‘Welcometothefamily,Bhabhi.’

TheroadsofAyodhyawerecloggedwithpeoplewaitingtoreceivetheircrownprince.Afewhadevenextended theirenthusiasm towelcomehisbride.Theprocession inched forwardata snail’space.Thelead chariot had Ram and Sita. The prince was awkwardly acknowledging the wild cheering in the

streets. Two chariots followed behind them.One hadBharat and Shatrughan,whileLakshman and hiswifeUrmila rode the second.Bharat flamboyantly acknowledged themultitude,waving his hands andblowingkisseswith trademark flourish.Lakshmanwavedhis trunk-likearmscarefully, lesthehurt thepetiteUrmila,whostooddemurelybyhisside.Shatrughan,asalways,stoodstoic,unmoved.Staringintothethrongs.Almostlikehewasacademicallystudyingcrowdbehaviour.Thechantingofthecrowdwasloudandclear.Ram!Bharat!Lakshman!Shatrughan!Their four beloved princes, the protectors of the kingdom, were finally together again. And most

importantly,theircrownprincehadreturned.Victorious!ThedefeaterofthehatedRaavanhadreturned!Flowerswere strewn,holy ricewasshowered,allweregayandhappy.Though itwasdaytime, the

massivestonelamptowerswerelitupfestively.Manyhadplacedlampsontheparapetsoftheirhomes.Resplendentsunshineblazedwithglory,asifinobeisancetotheprincefromthegreatclanoftheSunGodhimself.RamoftheSuryavanshis!Ittookfourhoursforthechariotstotraverseadistancethatnormallytooklessthanthirtyminutes.They

finallyreachedthewingofthepalaceallocatedtoRam.AvisiblyweakDashrathsatonhistravellingthrone,withKaushalyastandingnexttohim,waitingfor

hissons.Aproperwelcomeceremonyhadbeenlaidouttoreceivethenewbrides.Theeldestqueenwasascrupulousupholderoftraditionandrituals.Kaikeyi had not deigned to reply to the invitation sent by Kaushalya, regarding the welcoming

ceremony.Sumitra,ofpeace-lovingKashi,stoodontheothersideofDashrath.Kaushalyaleanedonherforsupport,always.Ofcourse,Sumitratoowaswelcominghomeadaughter-in-law!Loudconchshellswereheardastheswagatamceremonybeganatthepalacegate.The fourprincesofAyodhyaand the twoprincessesofMithila finallyemerged from themelee.The

Ayodhya royalguards,nervousascatsonahotmetal roof,heavedavisiblesighof reliefas the royalyoungstersenteredthepalacecompound.Awayfromthemultitude.The royalprocessionmovedalong theelegant,marble-encrustedwalkway in thecompound.Verdant

gardenswerelaidoutonbothsides.TheyslowedonreachingtheentranceofPrinceRam’swingofthepalace.SitahesitatedashereyesfellonKaushalya.Butshedismissedthethoughtthathadstruckher.Kaushalyawalkedtothethresholdholdingthepujathali inherhands. Itcontaineda lit lamp,a few

grains of rice and some vermilion. She looped theprayerplate in small circles, seven times, aroundSita’s face. She picked up some rice and threw it in the air, above Sita’s head. She took a pinch ofvermilionandsmeared itonSita’spartingon thehairline.Sitabentdown to touchKaushalya’s feet inrespect.Kaushalyahandedthethalitoanattendant,andplacedherhandsonSita’sheadandblessedher.‘Ayushmanbhav,mychild.’AsSitastraightened,KaushalyaindicatedDashrath.‘Acceptyourfather-in-law’sblessings.’Pointing

towardsSumitra,shecontinued,‘Andthen,fromyourchhotimaa.Wewillthendotheotherceremonies.’SitamovedaheadtofollowKaushalya’sinstructions.Ramsteppedforwardandtouchedhismother’s

feet.Sheblessedhimquicklyandindicatedthatheseekhisfather’sblessings.ThenshebeckonedUrmilaandLakshman.Urmila,unlikeSita,didnotdismissthethought;thesameone

thathadstruckSitaearlier.Kaushalya reminded her of hermother Sunaina. She had the same diminutive appearance and calm,

gentleeyes.Kaushalya’sskinwasdarkerandherfacialfeaturesweredifferent,nodoubt.Nobodycouldsay that theywere related.But therewassomethingsimilarabout them.Thespiritually inclinedwould

callitasoulconnection.UrmilawaitedforKaushalyatofinishtheaarticeremony,thenbentdowntotouchherfeet.Kaushalya

blessedtheyoungerprincessofMithila.AsUrmilarose,sheimpulsivelysteppedforwardandembracedKaushalya.TheQueenofAyodhyawassurprisedatthisunorthodoxbehaviourandfailedtoreact.Urmilapulledback,hereyesmoistwithemotion.She faintlyvoicedawordshehadbeenunable to

utterwithoutcrying,sinceSunainahaddied.‘Maa.’KaushalyawasmovedbytheinnocenceofsweetUrmila.Perhapsforthefirsttime,thequeenfaceda

womanshorter thanherself.She lookedat theroundbabyface,dominatedby largechild-likeeyes.Animageroseinhermindofatinysparrowthatneededprotectionfromthebig,threateningbirdsaroundit.Shesmiledfondly,andpulledUrmilabackintoherarms.‘Mychild…Welcomehome.’

ApalacemaidintheserviceofQueenKaushalyastood,headbowed.Waitingforherinstructions.Shewas in the residential office ofManthara, the richest businesswoman inAyodhya; arguably, the

richest in the Sapt Sindhu. Rumours suggested thatMantharawas even richer than EmperorDashrath.Druhyu,herclosestaide,couldswearthattherewassubstancetotheserumours.Indeed.Verysubstantialsubstance.‘MyLady,’whisperedthemaid,‘whataremyinstructions?’Themaidfellsilent,asDruhyusignalledherdiscreetly.Shewaited.DruhyustoodsubmissivelynexttoManthara.Silent.The disfiguredManthara sat on a specially designed chair that offered ameasure of comfort to her

hunched back. The scars on her face, remnants of a childhood affliction of small pox, gave her aforbiddingappearance.Attheageofelevenshehadfallenillwithpolio,leavingherrightfootpartiallyparalysed.Borntopoverty,herphysicaldisfigurationhadaddedprejudice,notsympathy,toherformativeyears.Shehad,infact,beenteasedmercilessly.Nowthatshewasrichandpowerful,noonedaredsayanythingtoherface.Butsheknewexactlywhatwassaidaboutherbehindherback.Fornow,shewasnotonly reviled for her deformedbody, but also hated fiercely for being aVaishya; for being a very richbusinessperson.Mantharalookedoutofthewindowtothelargegardenofherpalatialestate.Themaidfidgetedimpatientlyonherfeet.Herabsencewouldbenoticedinthepalacebeforelong.She

hadtoreturnquickly.ShecastapleadinglookatDruhyu.Heglaredback.Druhyu had begun to doubt the usefulness of remaining loyal toManthara. Thewoman had lost her

beloveddaughter,Roshni,toahorrificgangrapeandmurder.Theganghadbeentriedbythecourtsandexecuted.However,Dhenuka,themostviciousofthemall,andtheleaderofthegang,hadbeenletoffonalegaltechnicality.Hewasajuvenile;and,accordingtoAyodhyanlaw,juvenilescouldnotbeawardedthedeathpenalty.Ram,theprinceofAyodhyaandchiefofpolice,hadinsistedthatthelawbefollowed.Nomatter what. Manthara had sworn vengeance. Spending huge amounts of money, she had ferretedDhenukafromjailandhadhadhimkilledinaslow,brutalmanner.Butherthirstforvengeancehadnotbeenquenched.HertargetnowwasRam.Shehadbeenpatientlywaitingforanopportunity.Andonehadjustpresenteditself.Druhyustaredathismistress,hisfacedevoidofexpression.Theoldbathasbeenwastingtoomuch

moneyonherrevengemission.Itisaffectingbusiness.Shehaslostitcompletely.ButwhatcanIdo?NobodyknowstheconditionoftheTrueLord.Iamstuckwithherfornow…Mantharamadeuphermind.ShelookedatDruhyuandnodded.Druhyurockedbackwithshock,butcontrolledhimself.Onethousandgoldcoins!That’smorethanthismiserablepalacemaidwillearnintenyears!

Butheknew therewasnopoint arguing.Hequicklymade ahundi in lieu of cash.Themaid couldencashitanywhere.Afterall,whowouldrefuseacreditdocumentwithManthara’sseal?‘MyLady…’whisperedDruhyu.Manthara leaned forward, pulled out her seal from the pouch tied to her dhoti, and pressed its

impressiononthedocument.Druhyuhandedthehunditothemaid,whosefacecouldbarelycontainherecstasy.Druhyuquicklybroughtherdowntoearth.Hiscoldeyespinnedonher,hewhispered,‘Remember,if

theinformationdoesnotcomeontimeorisn’ttrue,weknowwhereyoulive…’‘Iwillnotfail,sir,’saidthemaid.As themaid turned to leave,Manthara said, ‘I’ve been told that Prince Ramwill soon be visiting

QueenKaushalya’swingofthepalacetospeakwithEmperorDashrath.’‘Iwillinformyouabouteverythingthatisdiscussed,MyLady,’saidthemaid,bowinglow.DruhyulookedatMantharaandthenthepalacemaid.Hesighedinwardly.Heknewthatmoremoney

wouldbepaidoutsoon.

‘Didi,justmysectionofthepalacehereisbiggerthantheentireMithilapalace,’saidUrmilaexcitedly.Urmilahadcarefullyguidedhermaidsinsettlingherbelongingsinherhusband’schambers.Havingput

themtowork,shehadquicklyrushedtomeetSita.Lakshmanhadbeentemptedtoaskhiswifetostay,butgaveintoherdesiretoseekcomfortinhersister’scompany.Herlifehadchangeddramaticallyinashortspanoftime.Sita smiled,as shepattedher sister’shand.Shestillhadn’t toldUrmila thatRamandshewouldbe

leaving thepalaceshortly, toreturnonlyafter fourteenyears.Urmilawouldbe leftbehind,withoutherbelovedsister,hereinthismagnificentpalace.Whytroubleherrightnow?Lethersettleinfirst.‘HowarethingswithLakshman?’askedSita.Urmilasmileddreamily.‘Heissuchagentleman.HedoesnotsaynotoanythingthatIaskfor!’Sitalaughed,teasinghersistergently.‘That’sexactlywhatyouneed.Anindulgenthusband,whotreats

youlikealittleprincess!’Urmila indicatedherdiminutivestructure, straightenedherbackand retortedwithmockseriousness,

‘ButIamalittleprincess!’Thesistersburstintopealsoflaughter.SitaembracedUrmila.‘Iloveyou,mylittleprincess.’‘Iloveyoutoo,Didi,’saidUrmila.Just then, thedoormanknockedandannounced loudly, ‘TheQueenofSaptSindhuandAyodhya, the

MotheroftheCrownPrince,HerMajestyKaushalya.Allriseinrespectandlove.’SitalookedatUrmila,surprised.Thesistersimmediatelycametotheirfeet.Kaushalyawalkedinbriskly,followedbytwomaidsbearinglargegoldenbowls,thecontentsofwhich

werecoveredwithsilkcloths.KaushalyalookedatSitaandsmiledpolitely,‘Howareyou,mychild?’‘Iamwell,BadiMaa,’saidSita.ThesistersbenttotouchKaushalya’sfeetinrespect.TheQueenofAyodhyablessedthembothwitha

longlife.KaushalyaturnedtoUrmilawithawarmsmile.Sitanoticedthatitwaswarmerthantheoneshehad

received.Thiswasasmilesuffusedwithmaternallove.Sitasmiled.Happy.Mylittlesisterissafehere.‘Urmila,mychild,’saidKaushalya,‘Ihadgonetoyourchambers.IwastoldIwouldfindyouhere.’

‘Yes,Maa.’‘Ibelieveyoulikeblackgrapes.’Urmilablinkedinsurprise.‘Howdidyouknow,Maa?’Kaushalyalaughed,withaconspiratoriallook.‘Iknoweverything!’AsUrmila laughed delicately, the queen pulled away the silk cloths with a flourish, to reveal two

goldenbowlsfilledtothebrimwithblackgrapes.Urmilasquealedindelightandclappedherhands.Sheopenedhermouth.Sitawassurprised.Urmila

hadalwaysaskedtobefedbytheirmother,Sunaina;butnotoncehadsheaskedhersister.Sita’seyesmoistenedinhappiness.Hersisterhadfoundamotheronceagain.KaushalyapickedagrapeanddroppeditintoUrmila’sopenmouth.‘Mmm,’saidUrmila,‘Itisawesome,Maa!’‘And,grapesaregoodforyourhealthtoo!’saidKaushalya.Shelookedatherelderdaughter-in-law.

‘Whydon’tyouhavesome,Sita?’‘Ofcourse,BadiMaa,’saidSita.‘Thankyou.’

Chapter26

Afewdayslater,Sitasatinsolitudeintheroyalgarden.Itlayadjuncttothepalace,withinthecompoundwalls.Laidoutinthestyleofabotanicalreserve,it

was filledwith flowering trees fromnotonly theSaptSindhubutothergreatempiresof theworld. Itssplendiddiversitywasalsothesourceofitsbeauty,reflectingthecompositecharacterofthepeopleoftheSaptSindhu.Windingpathsborderedwhathadoncebeenacarefully laidout lushcarpetofdensegrass in geometric symmetry.Alas, like themain palace and the courts, the royal garden also had theappearanceofdiminishinggrandeurandpatchyupkeep.Itwas,literally,goingtoseed;asorryreminderofAyodhya’sdepletingresources.ButSitawasneitheradmiring theachingbeautynormourning theslowdeterioration thatsurrounded

her.RamhadgonetospeakwithDashrathandhismother.Hewouldinsistthathebepunishedforthecrime

ofusingthedaiviastrainMithilawithoutVayuputraauthorisation.While thatwasRam’s conversation tohandle,Sitawasbusymakingplans to ensure that their lives

wouldnotbeendangeredinthejungle.ShehadaskedJatayutomeetheroutsidethecity.Shewouldaskhimtoshadowthemduringtheexile,alongwithhisteam.ShehadnoideahowtheMalayaputraswouldreacttoherrequest.SheknewthattheywereupsetwithherforrefusingtoberecognisedpubliclyastheVishnu.ButshealsoknewthatJatayuwasloyaltoherandwouldnotrefuse.‘Therevenueofahundredvillagesforyourthoughts,Bhabhi…’Sita turned toseeBharat standingbehindher.She laughed. ‘The revenueofahundredvillages from

yourwealthyKosalaormypoorMithila?’Bharatlaughedandsatnexttoher.‘So,haveyoumanagedtotalksomesenseintodada?’askedBharat.‘Tomakehimdrophisinsistence

onbeingexiled?’‘WhatmakesyouthinkthatIdon’tagreewithhim?’Bharatwassurprised.‘Well,Ithought…Actually,Ihavedonesomebackgroundcheckonyou,Bhabhi

…Iwastoldthatyouarevery…’‘Pragmatic?’askedSita,completingBharat’sstatement.Hesmiled.‘Yes…’‘And,whatmakesyouthinkthatyourbrother’spathisnotpragmatic?’Bharatwasatalossforwords.‘Iamnotsuggestingthatyourbrotherisbeingpragmaticconsciously.Justthatthepathhehaschosen—

one of unbridled commitment to the law—may notappear pragmatic. But counter-intuitively, itmayactuallybethemostpragmaticcourseforsomesectionsofoursociety.’‘Really?’Bharatfrowned.‘Howso?’‘Thisisatimeofvastchange,Bharat.Itcanbeexciting.Energising.Butmanyareunsettledbychange.

The Sapt Sindhu society has foolishly decided to hate its Vaishyas. They see their businessmen ascriminalsandthieves.Itisover-simplistictoassumethattheonlywayaVaishyamakesmoneyisthroughcheating and profiteering. It is also biased. Such radicalisation increases in times of change anduncertainty.Thefactisthatwhileafewbusinessmenmaybecrooks,mostVaishyasarehardworking,risk-

taking,opportunity-seekingorganisers.Iftheydonotprosper,thensocietydoesnotproducewealth.Andifasocietydoesnotgeneratemoney,mostpeopleremainpoor.Whichleadstofrustrationandunrest.’‘Iagreewith…’‘Iamnotfinished.’BharatimmediatelyfoldedhishandstogetherintoaNamaste.‘Sorry,Bhabhi.’‘Peoplecanadjusttopoverty,iftheyhavewisdomandknowledge.ButevenBrahminscommandvery

little respect in India these days. They may not be resented like the Vaishyas, but it is true that theBrahmins, or even the path of knowledge, are not respected today. I knowwhat people say aboutmyknowledge-obsessedfather,forinstance.’‘No,Idon’tthink…’‘I’mstillnotfinished,’saidSita,hereyestwinklingwithamusement.‘Sorry!’Bharatsurrendered,ashecoveredhismouthwithhishand.‘As a result, people do not listen to the learned. They hate the Vaishyas and in the process, have

ensured poverty for themselves. The peoplewho are idealised themost today are theKshatriyas, thewarriors.“Battle-honour”isanendinitself!There’shatredformoney,disdainforwisdomandloveofviolence.Whatcanyouexpectinthisatmosphere?’Bharatremainedsilent.‘Youcanspeaknow,’saidSita.Bharatremovedthehandthatcoveredhismouthandsaid,‘Whenyouspeakabouttheneedtorespect

theVaishya,Brahmin,orKshatriyawayoflife,youobviouslymeanthecharacteristicsandnotthepeoplebornintothatcaste,right?’Sitawrinkled her nose. ‘Obviously.Do you really think Iwould support the evil birth-based caste

system?Ourpresentcastesystemmustbedestroyed…’‘Onthat,Iagreewithyou.’‘So,comingbacktomyquestion.Inanatmosphereofhatredformoney-makers,disdainforwisdom-

givers,andloveonlyforwarandwarriors,whatwouldyouexpect?’‘Radicalisation.Especiallyamongyoungmen.Usually,theyarethebiggestfools.’Sitalaughed.‘Theyarenotallfoolish…’Bharatnodded.‘You’reright,Isuppose.Iamayoungmantoo!’‘So, youhave a situationwhereyoungmen, and frankly somewomen too, are radicalised.There is

intelligence,butlittlewisdom.Thereispoverty.Thereisloveofviolence.Theydon’tunderstandthattheabsence of balance in their society is at the root of their problems. They look for simplistic, quicksolutions.Andtheyhateanyonewhodoesn’tthinklikethem.’‘Yes.’‘IsitanysurprisethenthatcrimeissohighintheSaptSindhu?Isitanysurprisethatthereissomuch

crimeagainstwomen?Womencanbe talentedandcompetitive in the fieldsofknowledge, tradingandlabour.Butwhenitcomestoviolence,thealmightyhasnotblessedthemwithanaturaladvantage.’‘Yes.’‘Theseradicalised,disempowered,violence-lovingyouth, lookingforsimplisticsolutions,attack the

weak.Itmakesthemfeelstrongandpowerful.TheyareespeciallyvulnerabletotheauthoritarianmessageoftheMasculinewayoflife,whichcanleadthemastray.Thus,creatingchaosinsociety.’‘And,youdon’tthinkdada’sideasarerootedintheMasculineway?Don’tyouthinkthey’realittletoo

simplistic?And,tootop-down?Shouldn’tthesolutionbethewayoftheFeminine?Toallowfreedom?Toletpeoplefindbalanceontheirown?’‘But Bharat, many are wary of the uncertainties of the Feminine way. They prefer the simple

predictabilityoftheMasculineway.Offollowingauniformcodewithouttoomuchthought.Evenifthatcode is made by others. Yes, Ram’s obsession with the law is simplistic. Some may even call it

authoritarian.Butthereismeritinit.HewillgivedirectiontothoseyouthwhoneedthecertaintiesoftheMasculinewayoflife.Radicalisedyoungpeoplecanbemisusedbyademonicforceinpursuitofendlessviolenceandhatred.Ontheotherhand,Ram’steachingscanguidesuchpeopletoalifeoforder,justice,andfairness.Hecanharnessthemforagreatergood.Iamnotsuggestingthatyourelderbrother’spathisforeveryone.Buthecanprovideleadershiptothosewhoseekorder,certainty,compliance,anddefinitemorals.Tothosewhohaveastrongdislikeofdecadenceanddebauchery.Hecansavethemfromgoingdownapathofhatredandviolenceandinstead,buildthemintoaforceforthegoodofIndia.’Bharatremainedsilent.‘Ram’s truemessage can provide an answer, a solution, to the radicalisation that plagues somany

youngpeopletoday.’Bharatleanedback.‘Wow…’‘What’sthematter?’‘IhavearguedwithmybrotherallmylifeabouthisfaithintheMasculineway.Ialwaysthoughtthatthe

Masculinewaywillinevitablyleadtofanaticismandviolence.Butyouhaveopenedmymindinjustoneconversation.’‘Seriously,canyousaythattheFemininewayneverdegenerates?Theonlydifference,Bharat,isthatit

deteriorates differently. TheMasculineway is ordered, efficient and fair at its best, but fanatical andviolent at itsworst.TheFeminineway is creative, passionate and caring at its best, but decadent andchaotic at its worst. No one way of life is better or worse. They both have their strengths andweaknesses.’‘Hmmm.’‘Freedom is good, but inmoderation.Toomuchof it is a recipe for disaster.That’swhy the path I

preferisthatofBalance.BalancebetweentheMasculineandtheFeminine.’‘Ithinkdifferently.’‘Tellme.’‘Ibelievethereisnosuchthingastoomuchfreedom.Forfreedomhas,withinitself,thetoolsforself-

correction.’‘Really?’‘Yes.IntheFeminineway,whenthingsgettoodebauchedanddecadent,manywhoaredisgustedbyit,

usethesamefreedomavailabletothem,torevoltandspeakoutloud.Whensocietyismadeaware,andmoreimportantly,isinagreement,reformswillbegin.NoproblemremainshiddeninaFemininesocietyfortoolong.ButMasculinesocietiescanremainindenialforagesbecausetheysimplydonothavethefreedomtoquestionandconfronttheirissues.TheMasculinewayisbasedoncomplianceandsubmissiontothecode,thelaw.Thequestioningspiritiskilled;andwiththat,theabilitytoidentifyandsolvetheirproblemsbeforetheyleadtochaos.HaveyoueverwonderedwhytheMahadevs,whohadcometosolveproblemsthatnobodyelsecould,usuallyhadtofightwhoeverrepresentedtheMasculineforce?’Sita rocked back. Shewas startled into silence, as she consideredwhat Bharat had said about the

Mahadevs.Ohyes…He’sright…‘Freedom is the ultimate answer. Despite all the uncertainties it creates, freedom allows regular

readjustment.Which iswhy, very rarely does a problemwith theFemininewaybecome sobig that itneedsaMahadevtosolveit.ThismagicalsolutionissimplynotavailabletotheMasculineway.Thefirstthingitsuppressesisfreedom.Everyonemustcomply…Or,bekickedout.’‘Youmayhaveapoint.Butfreedomwithoutlawsischaos.I’mnotsure…’Bharatinterruptedhissister-in-law,‘Iamtellingyou,Bhabhi.Freedomistheultimatesilverarrow;the

answertoeverything.Itmayappearchaoticanddifficulttomanageonthesurface.Iagreethatlawscanbeflexiblyusedtoensurethatthereisn’ttoomuchchaos.Butthereisnoproblemthatcannotultimatelybe solved if you grant freedom to a sufficiently large number of argumentative and rebellious people.

WhichiswhyIthinkfreedomisthemostimportantattributeoflife,Bhabhi.’‘Moreimportantthanthelaw?’‘Yes. Ibelieve thereshouldbeas few lawsaspossible;enough just toprovidea frameworkwithin

whichhumancreativitycanexpressitselfinallitsglory.Freedomisthenaturalwayoflife.’Sitalaughedsoftly.‘Andwhatdoesyourelderbrotherhavetosayaboutyourviews?’Ramwalkeduptothemfrombehindandplacedhishandsonhiswife’sshoulders.‘Hiselderbrother

thinksthatBharatisadangerousinfluence!’Ramhadgonetohiswingofthepalaceandhadbeentoldthathiswifewasintheroyalgardens.He

hadfoundherdeepinconversationwithBharat.Theyhadnotnoticedhimwalkuptothem.Bharatburstoutlaughingasherosetoembracehisbrother.‘Dada…’‘ShouldIbethankingyouforentertainingyourbhabhiwithyourlibertarianviews?!’Bharatsmiledasheshrugged.‘AtleastIwon’tconvertthecitizensofAyodhyaintoabunchofbores!’Ramlaughedandsaid,tongueincheek,‘That’sgoodthen!’Bharat’sexpressioninstantlytransformedandbecamesombre.‘Fatherisnotgoingtoletyougo,Dada.

Evenyouknowthat.You’renotgoinganywhere.’‘Fatherdoesn’thaveachoice.Andneitherdoyou.YouwillruleAyodhya.Andyouwillruleitwell.’‘Iwillnotascendthethronethisway,’saidBharat,shakinghishead.‘No,Iwillnot.’RamknewthattherewasnothinghecouldsaythatwouldeaseBharat’spain.‘Dada,whyareyouinsistingonthis?’askedBharat.‘It’sthelaw,Bharat,’saidRam.‘Ifiredadaiviastra.’‘The hell with the law,Dada! Do you actually think your leaving will be in the best interests of

Ayodhya?Imaginewhatthetwoofuscanachievetogether;youremphasisonrulesandmineonfreedomandcreativity.DoyouthinkeitheryouorIcanbeaseffectivealone?’Ramshookhishead.‘I’llbebackinfourteenyears,Bharat.Evenyoujustconcededthatruleshavea

significantplaceinasociety.HowcanIconvinceotherstofollowthelawifIdon’tdosomyself?Thelawmustapplyequallyandfairlytoeverysingleperson.Itisassimpleasthat.’ThenRamstareddirectlyintoBharat’seyes.‘Evenifithelpsaheinouscriminalescapedeath,thelawshouldnotbebroken.’Bharatstaredrightback,hisexpressioninscrutable.Sita sensed that the brothers were talking about a sensitive issue. Things were getting decidedly

uncomfortable.SherosefromthebenchandsaidtoRam,‘YouhaveameetingwithGeneralMrigasya.’

Sita andher entouragewere in themarket.Shedidn’t intend tobuyanything.Shehad comeoutof thepalace to give one of her guards the opportunity to slip away unnoticed.Had he left from the palacecompound,hismovementswouldhavebeentracked.Buthere,inthecrowdedmarketplace,noonewouldmissonebodyguardfromthelargepossethatguardedSita.Fromthecornerofhereye,Sitasawhimslipintoatinylanethatledoutofthemarket.Hehadbeen

orderedtoarrangeameetingwithJatayuthefollowingday.Satisfied that hermessagewould be delivered, Sita walked towards her palanquin to return to the

palace.Herpathwassuddenlyblockedbyagrandpalanquinthatappearedoutofnowhere.Coveredwithgoldfiligree,itwasanornatebronzelitterwithsilkcurtainscoveringthesides.Itwasobviouslyaveryexpensiveandcomfortablepalanquin.‘Stop!Stop!’Afemininevoicewasheardfrominsidethecurtainedlitter.The bearers stopped immediately and placed the palanquin down. The strongest of the attendants

walkedtotheentrance,drewasidethecurtainandhelpedanoldwomanstepout.‘Namaste,princess,’saidManthara,asshelaboriouslycametoherfeet.Shefoldedherhandstogether

andbowedherheadwithrespect.‘Namaste,LadyManthara,’saidSita,returninghergreeting.Sitahadmetthewealthybusinesswomanthepreviousday.Shehadimmediatelyfeltsympathyforher.

PeopledidnotspeakkindlyofMantharabehindherback.ItdidnotseemrighttoSita,especiallykeepinginmindthatshehadlostherbeloveddaughter,Roshni,intragiccircumstances.One ofManthara’s aides quickly placed a folded chair behind her, allowing her to sit. ‘I am sorry,

princess.Ifinditdifficulttostandfortoolong.’‘Noproblem,Mantharaji,’saidSita.‘Whatbringsyoutothemarket?’‘I’mabusinesswoman,’smiledManthara.‘It’salwayswisetoknowwhat’shappeninginthemarket.’Sitasmiledandnodded.‘Infact,it’salsowisetoknowwhatishappeningeverywhereelsesincethemarketisimpactedbyso

manythings.’Sitagroanedsoftly.Sheexpectedtheusualquestion:WhywasRaminsistingonbeingpunishedforthe

crimeoffiringadaiviastra?‘Mantharaji,Ithinkit’sbestifwewaitfor…’MantharapulledSitacloseandwhispered,‘I’vebeentoldthat theEmperormaychoosetoabdicate,

making Ram the king. And that hemay choose to undertake the banishment of fourteen years himself.Alongwithhiswives.’Sita had heard this too. She also knew that Ram would not allow it. But what troubled her was

somethingelse.WheredidMantharajihearthis?Sitamaintained a straight face. Something didn’t feel right. She noticed thatManthara’s bodyguards

werekeepingotherpeopleinthemarketatbay.Achillrandownherspine.Thismeetingwasn’tanaccident.Itwasplanned.Sitarepliedcarefully,‘Ihavenotheardthis,Mantharaji.’MantharalookedhardatSita.Afterafewmoments,shesmiled,slightly.‘Really?’Sitaadoptednonchalance.‘WhywouldIlie?’Manthara’s smile broadened. ‘I have heard interesting things about you, princess. That you are

intelligent.Thatyourhusbandconfidesinyou.Thathetrustsyou.’‘Oh,Iamanobodyfromasmallcity.Ijusthappenedtomarryabovemyselfandarriveinthisbig,bad

metropolis where I don’t understandmuch of what you people say.Why shouldmy husband trustmyadvice?’Manthara laughed. ‘Big cities are complex.Here, often, thediffused light of themoon lendsgreater

insight.Muchislostintheglareofthesun.Therefore,thewisehaveheldthatforrealwisdomtorise,thesunmustset.’Isthatathreat?Sitafeignedconfusion.Mantharacontinued,‘Thecityenjoysthemoonandthenight.Thejunglealwayswelcomesthesun.’Thisisnotaboutbusiness.Thisisaboutsomethingelse.‘Yes,Mantharaji,’saidSita,pretendingtobepuzzled.‘Thankyouforthesewordsofwisdom.’MantharapulledSitacloser,staringdirectlyintohereyes.‘IsRamgoingtothejungleornot?’‘Idon’tknow,Mantharaji,’saidSita,innocently.‘TheEmperorwilldecide.’Mantharanarrowedhereyestilltheywerethin,malevolentslits.ThenshereleasedSitaandshookher

headdismissively.Asiftherewasnothingmoretobelearnthere.‘Takecare,princess.’‘Youtakecare,Mantharaji.’‘Druhyu…’saidMantharaloudly.Sitasawtheright-handmanofMantharashuffleupobsequiously.Thoughthelookonhisfacewasat

oddswithhismanner.

Sitasmiledinnocently.Something’snotright.IneedtofindoutmoreaboutManthara.

Chapter27

Sitareadthecodedmessagequickly.IthadcomeviaRadhika.Butthesenderwassomeoneelse.Themessagewasterse,butclear:IwillspeaktoGuruji;itwillbedone.Therewasnonameinscribedonthemessage.ButSitaknewthesender.Sheheldthelettertoaflame,lettingitburn.Sheheldontoittillithadreducedcompletelytoashes.Shesmiledandwhispered,‘Thankyou,Hanubhaiya.’

Sita and Jatayu stood in the small clearing. Itwas their predeterminedmeeting place in the jungle, anhour’sridefromthecity.Sitahadmadeitinhalfthattime.Shehadcoveredherfaceandbodyinalongangvastram,sothatshewouldn’tbeidentified.ShehadalottodiscusswithJatayu.NottheleastbeingherencounterwithManthara.‘Areyousureaboutthis,greatVishnu?’askedJatayu.‘Yes.IhadinitiallythoughtthatthecitywouldbemoredangerousforRam.Hehassomanyenemies

here.ButnowIthinkthejunglemaybewherethetruedangerlies.’‘Thenwhynotstayinthecity?’‘Can’tbedone.Myhusbandwon’tagreetoit.’‘But…Whynot?Whocaresaboutwhatothers…’SitainterruptedJatayu,‘Letmegiveyouaninsightintomyhusband’scharacter.GeneralMrigasya,one

ofthemostpowerfulmeninAyodhya,waswillingtobackRamreplacingDashrathbabujiasking.Infact,myfather-in-lawhimselfwantstoabdicateinRam’sfavour.Butmyhusbandrefused.Hesaidit’sagainstthelaw.’Jatayushookhisheadandsmiled.‘Yourhusbandisararejewelamongmen.’Sitasmiled.‘Thatheis.’‘So,youthinkMantharawill…’‘Yes.She isnot interested in thegameof thrones.Shewantsvengeance, especiallyagainstRam for

havingfollowedthelaw;fornotexecutingherdaughter’sjuvenilerapist-murderer.It’spersonal.’‘Anyideawhatsheisplanning?’‘ShewillnotdoanythinginAyodhya.Assassinatingapopularprincewithinthecityisrisky.Isuspect

shewilltrysomethinginthejungle.’‘IhavevisitedAyodhyabefore.Iknowherandhercohort.Ialsoknowwhomshedependson.’‘Druhyu?’‘Yes.Isuspecthewillbetheonewhowillorganisetheassassination.Iknowwhomhewilltrytohire.

Icanhandleit.’‘IhaveasuspicionaboutMantharaandDruhyu.Isuspecttheyareloyalto…’‘Yes,greatVishnu,’interruptedJatayu.‘Raavanistheirtruelord.’Sitatookadeepbreath.Thingswerebeginningtomakesense.‘DoyouwantustotakecareofMantharaaswell?’askedJatayu.‘No,’answeredSita.‘It’sbeendifficultenoughtostopRaavanfromretaliatingafterwhathappenedin

Mithila.Manthara ishiskeyperson inAyodhya,hismaincashcowin thenorth. Ifwekillher,hemaybreakhispactwiththeMalayaputrastonotattackMithila.’‘So…justDruhyu,then.’Sitanodded.‘Letusmeettomorrow.Ishouldknowmorebythen.’‘Ofcourse,Jatayuji,’saidSita.‘Thankyou.Youarelikeaprotectiveelderbrother.’‘Iamnothingbutyourdevotee,greatVishnu.’SitasmiledandfoldedherhandsintoaNamaste.‘Goodbye.GowithLordParshuRam,mybrother.’‘GowithLordRudra,mysister.’Sitamountedherhorseandrodeawayquickly.Jatayupickedupsomedustfromthegroundwhereshe

had stood and brought it reverentially to his forehead. He whispered softly, ‘Om Namo BhagavateVishnudevaya.TasyaiSitadevyainamonamah.’Hemountedhishorseandrodeaway.

SitawaitedoutsideVashishtha’sprivateoffice.TheguardshadbeensurprisedattheunannouncedarrivalofthewifeofPrinceRam.TheyhadaskedhertowaitsincetheRajGuruofAyodhyawasinameetingwithaforeignvisitor.‘I’llwait,’Sitahadsaid.The last few days had been action-packed. It had almost been decided by Dashrath that he would

abdicateandinstallRamasking.RamandSitahaddecidedthatifthathappened,Ramwouldabdicateinturnandbanishhimself,leavingBharattotakeover.Ideally,though,hedidn’twanttodothat,asitwouldbeapublicrepudiationofhisfather’sorders.Butithadnotcometothat.On the day before the court ceremony to announce Emperor Dashrath’s abdication, some dramatic

developmentshadtakenplace.QueenKaikeyihadlodgedherselfinthekopabhavan,thehouseofanger.Thiswasan institutionalisedchambercreated in royalpalacesmanycenturiesago,oncepolygamyhadbecome a common practice among the royalty.Havingmultiplewives, a kingwas naturally unable tospendenoughtimewithallofthem.Akopabhavanwastheassignedchamberawifewouldgotoifangryor upsetwith her husband. Thiswould be a signal for the king that the queen needed redressal for acomplaint.Itwasbelievedtobeinauspiciousforahusbandtoallowhiswifetostayovernightinthekopabhavan.Dashrathhadhadnochoicebuttovisithisaggrievedspouse.Nooneknewwhathadhappenedinthe

chamber,but thenextday,Dashrath’sannouncementhadbeenverydifferentfromwhat therumourshadsuggested.RamhadbeenbanishedfromtheSaptSindhuforaperiodoffourteenyears.Bharathadbeennamed the crown prince in Ram’s stead. Ram had publicly accepted the banishment with grace andhumility,praisingthewisdomofhisfather’sdecision.SitaandRamweretoleaveforthejunglewithinaday.Sitahadlittletimeleft.Sheneededtotieupalltheloopstoensuretheirsecurityintheforest.VashishthahadnotmetSitaatall,sincetheirarrival.WastheRajGuruofAyodhyaavoidingher?Or

hadanopportunitynotpresenteditselfthusfar?Anyway,shewantedtospeaktohimbeforesheleft.ShelookedupasshesawamanemergefromVashishtha’soffice.Hewasatall,unusuallyfair-skinned

man.Heworeawhitedhotiandanangvastram.Butonecouldtellbythedeliberatewayhewalkedthathewasdistinctlyuncomfortableinthedhoti.Perhaps,itwasn’thisnormalattire.Hismostdistinguishingfeatureswerehishookednose,beadedfullbeardanddroopingmoustache.Hiswizenedfaceandlargelimpideyeswereanimageofwisdomandcalm.He’saParihan.ProbablyaVayuputra.

TheParihanwalkedtowardsthemaindoor,notnoticingSitaandhermaidsinthesittingarea.‘MyLady,’aguardcameuptoSita,hisheadbowedinrespect.‘Mysincereapologiesforthedelay.’Sitasmiled.‘No,no.Youwereonlydoingyourjob.Asyoushould.’Shestoodup.Guidedbytheguard,shewalkedintoVashishtha’soffice.

‘ItmustbedoneoutsidetheboundariesoftheSaptSindhu,’saidDruhyu.Hewasinasmallclearingintheforest,havingriddeneastfromtheboundariesoftheGrandCanalfor

aroundthreehours.Hewaitedforaresponse.Therewasnone.Theassassinwasseatedin thedistance,hiddenbydarkshadows.Hisangvastramwaspulledclose

aroundhisfaceandtorso.Hewassharpeninghisknifeonasmoothstone.Druhyuhatedthispartofhisjob.Hehaddoneitafewtimes,buttherewassomethingaboutMarathat

spookedhim.‘TheEmperorhasannouncedthebanishmentofPrinceRam.Hiswifeandhewillbeleavingtomorrow.

Youwillhavetotrackthemtilltheyareoutoftheempire.’Maradidnotrespond.Hekeptsharpeninghisknife.Druhyuheldhisbreathinirritation.Howsharpdoesheneedthatdamnedknifetobe!Heplacedonelargebagofgoldcoinsonthetreestumpnearhim.Thenhereachedintohispouchand

took out ahundi. It was stamped with a secret seal recognised only by one specific moneylender inTakshasheela,acityfarinthenorthwesterncornersofIndia.‘Onethousandgoldcoinsincash,’saidDruhyu,‘andahundiforfiftythousandgoldcoinstobepicked

upattheusualplace.’Maralookedup.Then,hefeltthetipandedgesofhisblade.Heseemedsatisfied.Hegotupandstarted

walkingtowardsDruhyu.‘Hey!’Druhyugaspedinpanicasheturnedquicklyandranbacksomedistance.‘Don’tshowmeyour

face.I’mnotgoingtoseeyourface.’DruhyuknewnolivingpersonhadseenMara’sface.Hedidn’twanttoriskhislife.Marastoppedatthetreestump,pickedupthebagofgoldcoinsandjudgeditsweight.Hesetitdown

andpickedupthehundi.Hedidn’topenthedocument,butslippeditcarefullyintothepouchtiedtohiswaistband.Then,MaralookedatDruhyu.‘Itdoesn’tmatternow.’IttookafewmomentsforDruhyutorealisetheimportofwhathadbeensaid.Heshriekedinpanicand

rantowardshishorse.ButMara,leanandfit,couldmovefasterthanDruhyu.Silentasapanther,fastasacheetah.HewasuponDruhyuinalmostnotime.HecaughtholdofDruhyufromtheback,holdinghisneckinhisleftarm,pinioninghimagainsthisownbody.AsDruhyustruggledinterror,Marahithimhardonapressurepointatthebackofhisneckwiththeknifehilt.Druhyuwas immediately paralysed from the neck down.Mara let the limp body slip slowly to the

ground.ThenhebentoverDruhyuandasked,‘Whoelsehasbeencontracted?’‘Ican’tfeelanything!’screamedDruhyuinshock.‘Ican’tfeelanything!’Mara slappedDruhyuhard. ‘Youareonlyparalysed from theneckdown. I can release thepressure

point.Butfirst,answer…’‘Ican’tfeelanything.OhLordIndra!Ican’t…’MaraslappedDruhyuhard,again.‘AnswermequicklyandIwillhelpyou.Don’twastemytime.’Druhyu looked at Mara. His angvastram was tied across his face. Only the assassin’s eyes were

visible.

Druhyuhadn’tseenhisface.Maybehecouldstillcomeoutofthisalive.‘Pleasedon’tkillme…’sobbedDruhyu,afloodoftearsstreamingdownhisface.‘Answermyquestion.Hasanyoneelsebeencontracted?Isthereanyotherassassin?’‘Nobodybutyou…Nobodybutyou…Please…bythegreatLordIndra…Letmego…please.’‘IsthereanybodybesidesyouwhocanfindanassassinlikemeforLadyManthara?’‘No.Onlyme.Andyoucankeepthemoney.Iwilltellthatoldwitchthatyouhavetakenthecontract.

Youdon’thavetokillanyone.Howwillsheknow?ShewillprobablybedeadbeforePrinceRamreturns…Please…Letme…’Druhyu stopped talking asMara removed theangvastram that veiled his face. Sheer terror gripped

Druhyu’sheart.HehadseenMara’sface.Heknewwhatwouldfollow.Marasmiled.‘Don’tworry.Youwon’tfeelathing.’Theassassingotdowntowork.Druhyu’sbodyhadtobeleftthere.IthadtobediscoveredbyManthara

andtheothersinheremploy.Itwassupposedtosendamessage.

Sitawassittingwithheryoungersister,Urmila,whohadbeencryingalmostincessantly.Despiteallthathadbeenhappeningforthelastfewdays,SitahadfoundtimetocomeandmeetUrmila

repeatedly.LakshmanhadinsistedoncomingalongwithRamandSitaforthefourteen-yearbanishment.Initially, Lakshman had thoughtUrmila could also come along.He had later realised that the delicateUrmilawouldnotbeabletosurvivetherigoursofthejungle.Itwasgoingtobeatoughfourteenyears.Theforestscouldbesurvivedonlyifyouweresturdyandhard.Notifyouweredelicateandurbane.IthadbeentoughforLakshman,buthehadspokentoUrmilaandshehad,reluctantly,agreedtonotcomealongwiththethreeofthem.Thoughshewasunhappyaboutit.Sita too was constrained to admit that Lakshman was right. And she had come repeatedly to meet

Urmilatohelpheryoungersistermakepeacewiththedecision.‘Firstmaaleftme,’sobbedUrmila,‘NowyouandLakshmanarealsoleavingme.WhatamIsupposed

todo?’Sitaheldhersisterwarmly,‘Urmila,ifyouwanttocome,Iwillpushforit.ButbeforeIdoso,Ineed

youtorealisewhatjunglelifemeans.Wewon’tevenhaveapropershelteroverourheads.We’llliveofftheland,includingeatingmeat;andIknowhowyoudespisethat.TheseareminorthingsandIknowyouwilladapttowhatneedstobedone.Butthereisalsoconstantdangerinthejungle.MostofthecoastlinesouthoftheNarmadaRiverisinRaavan’scontrol.So,wecan’tgothereunlessweintendtogettorturedtodeath.’Urmilacutin,‘Don’tsaysuchthings,Didi.’‘We cannot go to the coast. So,wewill have to remain deep inland.Usually,within the forests of

Dandakaranya.TheAlmightyaloneknowswhatdangersawaitus there.Wewillhave to sleep lightlyeverynight,withourweaponsnexttous,incaseanywildanimalsattack.Nightistheirtimeforhunting.Therearesomanypoisonousfruitsandtrees;wecoulddiejustbyeatingthewrongthing.I’msuretherewill beotherdangerswearenot evenawareof.Allofuswill needourwits aboutus at all times tosurvive.Andinthemidstofallthis,ifsomethingweretohappentoyou,howwouldIfacemaawhenIleavethismortalbody?Shehadchargedmewithprotectingyou…And,youaresafehere…’Urmilakeptsniffing,holdingontoSita.‘DidKaushalyamaacometoday?’Urmila looked up, smiling wanly through her tears. ‘She is so wonderful. I feel like ourmaa has

returned.Ifeelsafewithher.’SitaheldUrmilatightagain.‘Bharatisagoodman.SoisShatrughan.TheywillhelpKaushalyamaa.

Buttheyhavemanypowerfulenemies,someevenmorepowerfulthantheking.YouneedtobehereandsupportKaushalyamaa.’Urmilanodded.‘Yes,Lakshmantoldmethesamething.’‘Lifeisnotonlyaboutwhatwewant,butalsoaboutwhatwemustdo.Wedon’tjusthaverights.We

alsohaveduties.’‘Yes,Didi,’saidUrmila.‘Iunderstand.Butthatdoesn’tmeanitdoesn’thurt.’‘Iknow,mylittleprincess,’saidSita,holdingUrmilatight,pattingherback.‘Iknow…’

OnlyafewhourswereleftforRam,Sita,andLakshmantoleaveforthejungle.Theyhadchangedintothegarbofhermits,madefromroughcottonandbark.SitahadcometomeetGuruVashishtha.‘I’ve been thinking since ourmeetingyesterday,Sita,’ saidVashishtha. ‘I regret thatwedidn’tmeet

earlier.Manyoftheissuesthatarosecouldhavebeenavoided.’‘Everythinghasitsowntimeandplace,Guruji.’VashishthagaveSitaa largepouch.‘Asyouhadrequested.Iamsure theMalayaputraswillalsoget

yousomeofthis.Butyouareright;it’sgoodtohaveback-up.’Sita opened the pouch and examined the white powder. ‘This is much finer than the usual Somras

powderIhaveseen.’‘Yes,it’smadefromtheprocessIhavedeveloped.’Sitasmeltthepowderandgrinned.‘Hmmm…itbecomesfinerandsmellsevenworse.’Vashishthalaughedsoftly.‘Butit’sjustaseffective.’Sitasmiledandputthepouchinthecanvasbagthatshehadslungaroundhershoulder.‘Iamsureyou

haveheardwhatBharathasdone.’AtearfulBharathadcometoRam’schambersandtakenhisbrother’sroyalslippers.Ifandwhenthe

timecameforBharattoascendtokingship,hewouldplaceRam’sslippersonthethrone.Withthisonegesture,Bharathadeffectivelydeclared thatRamwouldbe thekingofAyodhyaandhe,Bharat,wouldfunctionasamerecaretakerinhiselderbrother’sabsence.ThisaffordedapowerfulshieldofprotectiontoRamfromassassinationattempts.AnyattemptstomurderthefuturekingofAyodhyawouldinvitethewrathoftheEmpire,asmandatedbythetreatiesbetweenthevariouskingdomsunderthealliance.Addedtothecoldrealityoftreatyobligationswasthesuperstitionthatitwasbadkarmatokillkingsandcrownprinces, except in battle or open combat. While this afforded powerful protection to Ram, it wouldseverelyundercutBharat’sownauthorityandpower.Vashishthanodded.‘Bharatisanoblesoul.’‘All fourof thebrothers aregoodpeople.More importantly, they loveeachother.And this,despite

beingborninaverydysfunctionalfamilyanddifficulttimes.Iguesscreditmustbegivenwherecreditisdue.’Vashishtha knew this was a compliment to him, the guru of the four Ayodhya princes. He smiled

politelyandacceptedthepraisewithgrace.Sitafoldedherhandstogetherinrespectandsaid,‘I’vethoughtaboutit.Iagreewithyourinstructions,

Guruji.Iwillwaitfortherighttime.I’lltellRamonlywhenIthinkwearebothready.’‘Ram is special in so many ways. But his strength, his obsession with the law, can also be his

weakness.Helphimfindbalance.Then,bothofyouwillbethepartnersthatIndianeeds.’‘Ihavemyweaknessestoo,Guruji.Andhecanbalanceme.Therearesomanysituationsinwhichheis

muchbetterthanIam.That’swhyIadmirehim.’‘And,headmiresyou.Itisatruepartnership.’

Sitahesitatedslightlybeforesaying,‘Imustaskyousomething.’‘Ofcourse.’‘IguessyoumustalsohavebeenaMalayaputraonce…Whydidyouleave?’Vashishthabegantolaugh.‘Hanumanwasright.Youareverysmart.Scarilysmart.’Sitalaughedalong.‘Butyouhaven’tansweredmyquestion,Guruji.’‘LeavethesubjectofVishwamitraandmeaside.Please.It’stoopainful.’Sitaimmediatelybecameserious.‘Idon’twishtocauseyouanypain,Guruji.’Vashishthasmiled.‘Thankyou.’‘Imustgo,Guruji.’‘Yes.It’stime.’‘BeforeIgo,Imustsaythis.Imeanitfromthebottomofmyheart,Guruji.Youareasgreataguruas

theonewhotaughtme.’‘AndImeanitfromthebottomofmyheart,Sita.YouareasgreataVishnuastheoneItaught.’SitabentandtouchedVashishtha’sfeet.VashishthaplacedhishandsonSita’sheadandsaid,‘Mayyouhavethegreatestblessingofall:May

youbeofservicetoourgreatmotherland,India.’‘Salutations,greatRishi.’‘Salutations,greatVishnu.’

Chapter28

ElevenmonthshadpassedsinceRam,Sita,andLakshmanhadleftAyodhyaontheirfourteen-yearexileintheforest.Andalothadhappened.DashrathhadpassedawayinAyodhya.Thethreeofthemhadreceivedthisheartbreakingnewswhile

stillintheSaptSindhu.SitaknewithadhurtRamthathehadnotbeenabletoperformthedutiesofaneldest son and conduct the funeral rites of his father. For most of his life, Ram had had almost norelationshipwith his father.MostAyodhyans, includingDashrath, had blamed the ‘bad fate’ of Ram’sbirthforthedisastrouslosstoRaavanattheBattleofKarachapa.ItwasonlyoverthelastfewyearsthatRamandDashrathhadfinallybegunbuildingabond.Butexileanddeathhadforced themapartagain.ReturningtoAyodhyawasnotpossibleasthatwouldbreakLordRudra’slaw,butRamhadperformedayagnaintheforestforthejourneyhisfather’ssoulhadundertaken.Bharat had remained true tohisword andplacedRam’s slippers on the throneofAyodhya.Hehad

beguntogoverntheempireashisbrother’sregent.ItcouldbesaidthatRamhadbeenappointedemperorinabsentia.Anunorthodoxmove.ButBharat’sliberalanddecentralisingstyleofgovernancehadmadethedecisionpalatabletothekingdomswithintheSaptSindhu.Ram,Lakshman, andSitahad travelled south.Primarilywalkingby thebanksof rivers, theymoved

inlandonlywhennecessary.TheyhadfinallycrossedthebordersoftheSaptSindhunearthekingdomofSouth Kosala, ruled by Ram’s maternal grandfather. Lakshman and Sita had suggested visiting SouthKosala and resting there for a few months. But Ram believed that it was against the spirit of thepunishmenttheywereservingtoexploitthecomfortsofthepalaceofroyalrelatives.They had skirted South Kosala and travelled deeper southwest, approaching the forest lands of

Dandakaranya.LakshmanandRamhadexpressedsomeconcernabouttravellingsouthoftheNarmada.LordManuhadbannedtheSaptSindhuansfromcrossingtheNarmadatotheSouth.Iftheydidcross,theywerenot toreturn.Or,so ithadbeendecreed.ButSitahadpointedout thatIndianshad,formillennia,found creative ways to travel to the south of the Narmada without actually ‘crossing’ the river. ShesuggestedthattheyfollowtheletterofLordManu’slaw,butnotthespirit.WhileRamwasuncomfortablewith this,Sitahadmanagedtoprevail.Livingclose to thecoastwas

dangerous;Raavancontrolledthewesternandeasterncoastlinesofthesubcontinent.Thesafestplacewasdeepinland,withintheDandakaranya;evenifthatmeantbeingsouthoftheNarmada.Theyhadtravelledinasouthwesterlydirection,sothatthesourceofthewest-flowingNarmadaremainedtotheirnorth.Theyhad,thus,reachedlandthatwasgeographicallytothesouthoftheNarmadawithouttechnically‘crossing’theriver.Theywerenowattheoutskirtsofaverylargevillage,almostasmalltown.‘Whatisthistowncalled,CaptainJatayu?’askedRam,turningtotheMalayaputra.‘Doyouknowthese

people?’JatayuandfifteenofhissoldiershadbeentrailingRam,Sita,andLakshman,ensuringtheirsafety.As

instructedbySita,theyhadremainedhidden.RamandLakshmandidnotknowoftheirpresenceforalongtime.However, despite their best efforts to stay hidden, Ram had begun to suspect that someonewasshadowing them. Sita had not been sure how Ram would react to her seeking protection from someMalayaputras.SoshehadnottoldRamaboutherdecisiontoaskJatayutoactasabodyguardforthem.However, as they crossed the borders of the Sapt Sindhu, the risks of assassination attempts had

increased.SitahadfinallybeenforcedtointroduceJatayutoRam.TrustingSita,RamhadacceptedtheMalayaputraandhisfifteensoldiersasmembersofhisteam.Togethertheywereoneshortoftwentynow;moredefendablethanagroupofjustthree.Ramunderstoodthis.‘It’s called Indrapur, Prince Ram,’ said Jatayu. ‘It is the biggest town in the area. I know Chief

Shaktivel,itsleader.I’msurehewillnotmindourpresence.It’safestiveseasonforthem.’‘Festivitiesarealwaysgood!’saidLakshman,laughingjovially.RamsaidtoJatayu,‘DotheycelebrateUttarayanaswell?’TheUttarayanmarked thebeginningof thenorthwardmovementof thesunacross thehorizon.This

daymarked the farthest that thenurturer of theworld, the sun,movedaway from those in thenorthernhemisphere.Itwouldnowbeginitssix-monthjourneybacktothenorth.Itwasbelievedtobethatpartoftheyearwhichmarkednature’s renewal.Thedeathof theold.Thebirthof thenew. Itwas, therefore,celebratedacrosspracticallyalloftheIndiansubcontinent.Jatayufrowned.‘Ofcoursetheydo,PrinceRam.WhichIndiandoesnotcelebratetheUttarayan?We

areallalignedtotheSunGod!’‘Thatweare,’saidSita.‘OmSuryayaNamah.’Everyonerepeatedtheancientchant,bowingtotheSunGod.‘OmSuryayaNamah.’‘Perhaps,wecanparticipateintheirfestivities,’saidSita.Jatayusmiled.‘TheIndrapuransareamartial,aggressivepeopleandtheircelebrationscanbealittle

rough.’‘Rough?’askedRam.‘Let’sjustsayyouneedbullsamongmentobeabletoparticipate.’‘Really?What’sthiscelebrationcalled?’‘It’scalledJallikattu.’

‘By thegreatLordRudra,’whisperedRam. ‘This sounds similar toourVrishbandhan festival…ButveryfewplaythisgameintheSaptSindhuanymore.’Ram,Sita,Lakshman,Jatayu,andthebodyguardshadjustenteredIndrapur.Theyhadgonestraightto

thegroundnexttothetownlake.IthadbeenfencedinandpreparedfortheJallikattucompetitionthenextday.Crowdsweremillingaroundthefence,takinginthesightsandsounds.Nobodywasallowedtocrossthefenceintotheground.Thebullswouldbeledtheresoontoacclimatisethemforthecompetitionthenextday.JatayuhadjustexplainedthegameofJallikattutothem.Itwas,initsessence,averysimplegame.The

nameliterallymeantatiedbagofcoins.Inthiscase,goldcoins.Thecontestanthadtoyankthisbagtobedeclaredawinner.Simple?Notquite!Thechallengelayintheplacethisbagofcoinswastied.Itwastiedtothehornsofabull.Notanyordinarybull,mindyou.Itwasabullespeciallybredtobeaggressive,strongandbelligerent.‘Yes,itissimilartoVrishbandhan,embracingthebull,’explainedJatayu.‘Thegameitselfhasbeen

around for a long time, as you know. In fact, some say that it comes down from our Dwarka andSangamtamilancestors.’‘Interesting,’saidSita.‘Ididn’tknowitwassoancient.’Manybulls,whichwouldparticipateintheJallikattu,werespeciallybredinthesurroundingvillages

andwithinIndrapuritself.Theownerstookprideinfindingthebestbullstobreedwiththelocalcows.And,theytookevenmoreprideinfeeding,trainingandnurturingthebeaststobecomefiercefighters.‘There are lands far to the east, outside India’s borders,’ said Jatayu, ‘where you find bull-fighting

competitionsaswell.Butintheircase,thediceisloadedagainstthebulls.Thosepeoplekeepthebulls

hungryforafewdaysbeforethecontest,toweakenthem.Beforethemainbull-fightergetsintothering,histeamfurtherweakensthebeastconsiderably.Theydothisbymakingthepoorbullrunalongdistanceandstabbingitmultipletimeswithlongspearsandblades.Anddespiteweakeningthebullsomuch,thebull-fighterstillcarriesaweapontofightthebeast,andultimatelykillit.’‘Cowards,’saidLakshman.‘Thereisnokshatriyahoodinfightingthatway.’‘Exactly,’saidJatayu. ‘Infact,even in therarecase thatabullsurvives thatcompetition, it isnever

broughtbackintothearenaagainbecauseitwouldhavelearnthowtofight.Andthatwouldtiltthescalesinitsfavourinsteadofthebull-fighter.So,theyalwaysbringinanew,inexperiencedbull.’‘And,ofcourse,thisisnotdoneinJallikattu…’saidRam.‘Notatall.Here,thebulliswellfedandkeptstrongandhealthy,all theway.Nobodyisallowedto

spearorweakenit.Experiencedbulls,whichhaveperformedwellinpreviouscompetitions,areallowedtoparticipateaswell.’‘That’sthewaytodoit,’saidLakshman.‘Thatwillmakeitafairfight.’‘Itgetsevenfairer,’continuedJatayu.‘Noneofthemencompetingagainstthebullareallowedtocarry

anyweapons.Notevensmallknives.Theyonlyusetheirbarehands.’Lakshmanwhistledsoftly.‘Thattakesrealcourage.’‘Yes, itdoes. In thatotherbull-fightingcompetition I toldyouabout, theoneoutside India, thebulls

almostalwaysdieandthemenrarelysufferseriousinjury,letalonedie.ButinJallikattu,thebullsneverdie.It’sthemenwhoriskseriousinjury,evendeath.’Asoft,childishvoicewasheard.‘That’sthewayrealmenfight.’Ram,Sita,Lakshman,andJatayuturnedalmostinunison.Asmallchild,perhapssixorsevenyearsof

age, stood before them. He had fair skin and small animated eyes. For his young age, he wasextraordinarily hairy. His chest was puffed with pride. His arms akimbo as he surveyed the groundbeyondthewoodenfence.He’sprobablyaVaanar.Sita went down on her knees and said, ‘Are you participating in the competition tomorrow, young

man?’The child’s body visibly deflated.His eyes downcast, he said, ‘Iwanted to.But they say I cannot.

Childrenarenotallowed.BythegreatLordRudra,ifIcouldcompeteIamsureIwoulddefeateveryone.’Sitasmiledbroadly.‘I’msureyouwould.What’syourname,son?’‘MynameisAngad.’‘A-N-G-A-D!’Aloudboomingvoicewasheardfromadistance.Angadturnedaroundrapidly.Fearinhiseyes.‘Myfather’scoming…Igottago…’‘Wait…’saidSita,stretchingherhandout.ButAngadwriggledoutandranawayquickly.SitaroseupandturnedtowardsJatayu.‘Thenamerangabell,right?’Jatayunodded.‘Ididn’trecognisetheface.ButIknowthename.ThatisPrinceAngad.ThesonofKing

ValiofKishkindha.’Ramfrowned.‘ThatkingdomisdeepinthesouthofDandakaranya,right?Isn’titalignedto…’Ramwasinterruptedbyanotherboomingvoice.‘I’llbedamned!’The crowdmadeway as the chief of Indrapur,Shaktivel,walkedup to them.His voice aggressive.

‘Youcometomytownandnobodyinformsme?’Shaktivelwasamassiveman.Swarthy.Tall.Muscledlikeanaurochbull,withalargebelly,hisarms

and legswere like the trunks of a small tree.Hismost striking feature, however,was his extra-largemoustache,whichextendedgrandlydownhischeeks.Despitehisobviousstrength,hewasalsogettingoninage,asevidencedclearlybythemanywhitehairsinhismoustacheandonhishead.And,thewrinkles

onhisforehead.Jatayuspokecalmly,‘We’vejustarrived,Shaktivel.Noneedtoloseyourtemper.’Toeveryonepresent,Shaktivel’seyesconveyedimmenseanger.Suddenly,heburstintoloudlaughter.

‘Jata,youstupidbugger!Comeintomyarms!’JatayulaughedasheembracedShaktivel.‘Youwillalwaysbearidiculousoaf,Shakti!’SitaturnedtoRamandarchedaneyebrow.Amusedatseeingtwomalesexpressloveforeachother

throughexpletivesandcurses.Ramsmiledandshruggedhisshoulders.The crowds around began cheering loudly as the two friends held each other in a long and warm

embrace. Clearly, the relationshipmeant a lot to them. Equally clearly, theyweremore brothers thanfriends.Finally,ShaktivelandJatayusteppedback,stillholdingeachother’shands.‘Whoareyourguests?’askedShaktivel.‘Becausetheyaremyguestsnow!’Jatayu smiled and held his friend’s shoulder, as he said, ‘Prince Ram, Princess Sita, and Prince

Lakshman.’Shaktivel’seyessuddenlywidened.HefoldedhishandstogetherintoaNamaste. ‘Wow…theroyal

familyofAyodhyaitself.Itismyhonour.Youmustspendthenightinmypalace.And,ofcourse,comeandseetheJallikattutomorrow.’RampolitelyreturnedShaktivel’sNamaste.‘Thankyouforyourhospitality.Butit’snotcorrectforus

tostayinyourpalace.Wewillstayintheforestcloseby.Butwewillcertainlycomeforthecompetitiontomorrow.’ShaktivelhadheardofRam’spunishment,sohedidn’tpressthematter.‘Youcouldatleastgivemethe

pleasureofhavingdinnerwithyou.’Ramhesitated.‘Nothingfashionableatmypalace.Justasimplemealtogetherintheforest.’Ramsmiled.‘Thatwouldbewelcome.’

‘Lookatthatone,’whisperedLakshmantoSitaandRam.Itwas justafternoon thenextday.Massivecrowdshadgatheredat the lake-sideground,where the

contestbetweenmanandbeastwasabouttotakeplace.Thegroundhadasmallentryontheeasternside,fromwherebullswouldbe led in,onebyone.Theyhadbeen trained tomakea run for theexitat thewesternend,agoodfivehundredmetresaway.Themen,essentially,hadthatdistancetotryandgrabholdofthebullandpulloutthebagofcoins.Ifthecontestantwon,hewouldkeepthebagofgoldcoins.Moreimportantly,hewouldbecalledaVrishank;abullwarrior!Ofcourse, ifanybull reached thewesterngateandescaped,withoutlosingitsbag,theownerofthebullwouldbedeclaredwinner.Needlesstosay,hewouldkeepthebagofcoins.Therewere various breeds of bulls thatwere used in the Jallikattu competitions. Among themost

popularwasa typeofzebubulls thatwerespecificallycross-bred foraggression, strength,andspeed.Theywere extremely agile andcould turn aroundcompletely at the same spot in a split second.Moreimportantly,theyalsohadaverypronouncedhump;thiswasarequirementforanybullcompetingintheJallikattu. Somebelieved that the humpswere essentially fat deposits.They couldn’t bemorewrong.Thesehumpswereanenlargementoftherhomboideusmuscleintheshoulderandback.Thesizeofthehump,thus,wasamarkerofthequalityofthebull.And,judgingbythesizeofthehumpsonthesebulls,theywere,clearly,fiercecompetitors.Inkeepingwithtradition,proudownerswereparadingthebullsintheground.Thiswassothathuman

contestants could inspect the beasts.As tradition also dictated, the owners, one byone, began to bragaboutthestrengthandspeedoftheirbulls; theirgenealogy, thediet theywerefed, thetrainingtheyhad

received,eventhenumberofpeopletheyhadgored!Thegreater themonstrosityofthebull, thelouderandlustierthecheersofthecrowd.Andastheownerstoodwithhisbull,manyfromthecrowdwouldthrowtheirangvastramsintotheringtosignifytheirintentiontocompetewiththatbeast.Buttheyallfellsilentasanewbullwasledin.‘BythegreatLordRudra…’whisperedLakshman,inawe.SitaheldRam’shand.‘Whichpoorsodisgoingtograbthecoinsfromthatbull’shorns?’Theownerofthebullwasawareoftheimpactofthemerepresenceofhisbeast.Sometimes,silence

speakslouderthanwords.Hedidn’tsayanything;nothingaboutitsheredity,itsawesomefoodhabits,orfearsome training.He simply lookedat thecrowd, arrogancedripping fromeveryporeofhisbody. Infact,hedidn’texpectanycontestanttoeventrytocompeteagainsthisbull.Thebullwasmassive,largerthanalltheothersthathadbeenparadedsofar.Theownerdidn’tclarify,

butitseemedlikeacross-breedbetweenawildgaurandthefastersub-breedofthedomesticatedzebu.Clearlythough,thegaurgeneshaddominatedinthemakingofthisbeast.Itwasgigantic,standingoversevenfeettallattheshoulderswithalengthofnearlytenfeet.Itmusthaveweighedinatonethousandfive hundred kilograms. And practically all that one could see rippling under its skin was pure hardmuscle.Its twohornswerecurvedupwards,makingahollowcupontheupperpartof thehead, likeatypicalgaurbull.Zebugeneshadprevailedinthemakeofthebeast’sskin.Itwaswhitishgreyandnotdarkbrownlikegaurskinsusuallyare.Perhapstheonlyotherplacewherethezebugeneshadwonwasthe hump.Normally, a gaur has an elongated ridge on its back; it’s flat and long. But this bull had aprominent and very large hump on its upper shoulders and back. This was very, very important. Forwithoutthathump,thisbeastlybullwouldhavebeendisqualifiedfromtheJallikattu.Ifacompetitormanagedtograbholdofthehumpofabull,hismaintaskwastoholdontight,evenas

thebullbuckedaggressively,tryingtoshakethehumanoff.Throughthetussle,themanhadtosomehowholdon;and ifheheldon longenoughandpulled tight, thebullwouldfinallyslowdownand themancouldgrabthebag.Theownersuddenlyspoke.Loudly.Disconcertingly,consideringthedemonicanimalheled,thevoice

ofthemanwassoftandfeminine.‘Someofyoumaythinkthisbullisallaboutsize.Butspeedmattersaswell!’Theownerletgooftheropeandwhistledsoftly.Thebullchargedoutinaflash.Itsspeedblinding.It

wasfasterthananyotherbullonthisday.Lakshmanstared,awestruck.Gaursarenotmeanttobethisfast!Thebullturnedrapidlyinitsspot,displayingitsfearsomeagility.Asifthatwasn’tenough,itsuddenly

startedbuckingaggressively,andchargingtowardsthefence.Thecrowdfellbackinterror.Itsdominanceestablished,thebullsaunteredbacktoitsowner,lowereditsheadandsnortedaggressivelyatthecrowd.Magnificent!Loudandspontaneousapplausefilledtheair.‘Looks like the hump and skin colour are not the only things it inherited from its zebu ancestor,’

whisperedSita.‘Yes, it has inherited its speed aswell,’ said Lakshman. ‘With thatmassive size and speed… It’s

almostlikeme!’SitalookedatLakshmanwithasmile.Itdisappearedasshesawthelookonherbrother-in-law’sface.‘Don’t…’whisperedSita.‘Whatabeast,’saidLakshman,admiringly.‘Itwillbeaworthycompetitor.’Ram placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder, holding him back. But before Lakshman could do

anything,aloudvoicewasheard.‘Iwillcompetewiththatbull!’Everyone’s eyes turned towards a violet-coloured, obviously expensive angvastram flying into the

ring.Beyondthewoodenfencestoodafair,ridiculouslymuscularandveryhairymanofmediumheight.

Heworeasimplecream-coloureddhotiwithoneendofitstickingoutlikeatail.Theclothesmayhavebeensimple,butthebearingwasregal.‘That’sVali,’saidJatayu.‘TheKingofKishkindha.’

Vali stood close to the barricaded entrance. The gaur-zebu bull was about to be let loose. It was acoveredgateandthebullcouldn’tseewhoorwhatwaswaitingontheotherside.Threebullshadalreadyrun.Twohadbeenbaitedandtheirgoldcoinsgrabbed.Butonebullhadescapedwithitspackage.Itwasarapidgame.Individualracesrarelylastedmorethanaminute.Therewereatleastahundredmorebullstorun.Buteveryoneknewthatthiswasthematchtowatch.Thepriestofthelocaltemplebellowedoutloud.‘MaytheVrishankaboveallVrishanks,LordRudra,

blessthemanandthebeast!’Thiswas the standard announcement before any Jallikattu match in Indrapur. And as usual, it was

followedbytheloudandreverberatingsoundofaconchshell.Afteramoment’ssilence,theloudclankingofmetalgateswasheard.‘JaiShriRudra!’roaredthecrowd.Fromthedarkinteriorsofthecoveredgate,thebeastemerged.Usually,bullschargedout,thundering

pastthepressofhumanswhotriedtolungefromthesidesandgrabthehumpoftheanimal.Gettinginfrontofthebullwasdangerousforitcouldgoreyouwithitshorns.Beingatthebackwas

equallydangerousforitcouldkickoutwardswithitsformidablehindlegs.Itssidewasthebestplacetobe.Whichiswhy,bullsweretrainedtodashacross,givingmenlesstimetotryandgrabfromthetwosides.But this gaur-zebubull simply saunteredout.Supremely sureof its abilities.Vali,whowaswaiting

besidethegate,hiddenfromview,leaptupassoonasthebullemerged.ConsideringValiwasnearlyone-and-a-halffeetshorterthanthebull,itwasatributetohissupremephysicalfitnessthathemanagedtogethisarmsaroundthebull’smassivehumpashelanded.Thebullwasstartled.Someonehaddaredtoholditshump.Itstartedbuckingwildly.Bellowingloudly.Bangingitshooveshardontheground.Suddenly,showingawe-inspiringdexterity,itwhirledalmostacompletecirclewithmonstrousspeed.Valilosthisgrip.Hewasflungaway.Thebull suddenly calmeddown. It stared at theproneVali, snorted imperiously andbeganwalking

away.Slowly.Towardstheexit.Staringintothecrowds,nonchalantly.SomeonefromthecrowdshoutedanencouragementtoVali.‘Comeon!Getup!’Thebulllookedatthecrowdandstopped.Itthenturnedtowardsthelake,presentingitsbacksidetothe

crowd. It slowly raised its tail andurinated.Then,maintaining its blasédemeanour, it startedwalkingagain.Towardstheexit.Justasleisurely.Lakshman laughed softly, as he shook his head. ‘Forget about baiting this bull. The bull is, in fact,

baitingus!’RamtappedLakshmanonhisshoulder.‘LookatVali.He’sgettingup.’Valibangedhisfistshardonhischestandsprintedahead.Lightonhisfeet.Hislonghairflyinginthe

wind.Hecameupfrombehindthebull.‘Thisman isamaniac!’ saidLakshman,worriedbutanimated. ‘Thatbullcancrushhischestwitha

singleblowfromitshindlegs!’AsValicameclosetothebull,hejumpedup,soaringhigh.Helandedontopofthebull.Thesurprised

beast,whichhadn’tseenValicomeupfrombehind,bellowedloudlyandwentuponitshindlegs.Tryingtoshakethekingoff.ButValiheldonfirmly.Screamingatthetopofhislungs!Theoutragedbullroared.Louderthanthemanwhoclungtoit.Lettingitsfrontlegsfalltotheground,it

lowereditsheadandbuckedwildly.ButValiheldon,screamingallthetime.Thebullsuddenlyleaptintotheairandshookitsbody.Itstillcouldnotgetridofthemanholdingon

desperatelytoitshump.Theentirecrowdhad fallen silent. Inabsoluteawe.Theyhadnever seenaJallikattumatch last so

long.TheonlysoundsweretheloudbellowsofthebullandtheroarsofVali.Thebullleaptupagainandreadiedtofalltoitsside.ItsweightwouldhavecrushedValitodeath.He

quicklyletgoofthebull.Butnotfastenough.Thebulllandedonitsside.Valiescapedthebulk,butitsfrontlegslashedVali’sleftarm.Lakshman

heardthebonecrackfromwherehestood.Tohisadmiration,Valididnotscreaminpain.Thebullwasuponitsfeetinnotimeandtrottedaway.Fromadistance,itlookedatVali.Angerblazinginitseyes.Butitkeptitsdistance.‘Thebullisangry,’whisperedRam.‘Iguessithasneverhadahumangosofar.’‘Staydown,’saidSita,almostwillingValitoremainontheground.LakshmanstaredatValisilently.Ifamanremainedcurledupontheground,unmovinglikeastone,abullnormallywouldnotcharge.

Butifhestoodup…‘Fool!’ hissedSita, as she sawVali rising once again, his bloodied and shattered left armdangling

uselesslybyhisside.‘Staydown!’Lakshman’smouthfellopeninawe.Whataman!Thebull tooseemedshockedandenragedthatthemanhadrisenonceagain.Itsnortedandshookits

head.Valibangedhischestrepeatedlywithhisrightfistandroaredloudly,‘Vali!Vali!’Thecrowdtoobeganshouting.‘Vali!’‘Vali!’Thebullbellowedloudly,andbangeditsfronthooveshardontheground.Awarninghadbeengiven.Valibangedhischestagain,hisshatteredleftarmswinginguselesslybyhisside.‘Vali!’Thebullcameuponitshindlegsandbellowedonceagain.Muchlouderthistime.Almostdeafeningly

loud.Andthen,thebeastcharged.Lakshmanjumpedoverthefence,racingtowardsthebullatthesametime.‘Lakshman!’screamedRam,asheandSitaalsoleaptoverandsprintedafterLakshman.Lakshman ran diagonally, bisecting the path betweenVali and the animal. Luckily for the prince of

Ayodhya,thebulldidnotseethisnewthreat.Lakshmanwasmuch taller thanVali.Hewasalso farmorebulkyandmuscular.ButevenLakshman

knew that brute strengthwas useless against this gargantuan beast. He knew hewould have only onechance.Thebull’shornswereunlikethepurezebubreed;purezebubullshadstraight,sharphornswhichworked like blunt knives while goring. The gaur-zebu bull’s horns, on the other hand, were curvedupwards,makingahollowintheupperpartofthehead.ThebullwasfocusedonVali.Ithadlowereditsheadandwasthunderingtowardshim.Itdidn’tnotice

Lakshmancomeupsuddenlyfromtheside.Lakshmanleaptforward,timinghisjumptoperfection,pullinghislegsup.Ashesoaredabovethebull’shead,hequicklyreachedoutwithhishandandyankedthebagoffthehorns.Forthatsplitsecond,thebullkeptchargingforwardandLakshman’sfeetcameinlinewiththe bull’s head. He pushed out with his legs. Hard. Effectively using the bull’s head as leverage, hebounced away. Lakshman’s weight and size were enough to push the head of the bull down. As heboundedaway,rollingonthefield,thebull’sheadbangedintothehardgroundandittripped,fallingflatonitsface.

RamandSitausedthedistractiontoquicklypickupValiandsprinttowardsthefence.‘Leaveme!’screamedVali,strugglingagainstthetwo.‘Leaveme!’Vali’sstruggleledtomorebloodspillingoutofhisshatteredarm.Itincreasedthepaindramatically.

ButRamandSitadidnotstop.Meanwhile,thebullquicklyrosetoitsfeetandbellowedloudly.Lakshmanraisedhishand,showing

thebagheheld.The bull should have charged.But it had been trainedwell.As soon as it saw the bag of coins, it

lowered its head and snorted. It looked behind at its owner,whowas standing close to the exit. Theownersmiledandshrugged,mouthingthewords,‘Youwinsome.Youlosesome.’ThebulllookedbackatLakshman,snorted,andlowereditsheadagain.Almostasifitwasaccepting

defeatgracefully.LakshmanpulledhishandstogetherintoaNamasteandbowedlowtothemagnificentbeast.Thebullthenturnedaroundandstartedwalkingaway.Towardsitsowner.Vali,meanwhile,hadlostconsciousness,asSitaandRamcarriedhimoverthefence.

Chapter29

Lateintheevening,ShaktivelcametotheforestedgewhereRamandhisbandwereresting.AfewmenfollowedtheChiefofIndrapur,bearinglargebundlesofweaponsintheirhands.Ramstoodup,foldinghishandstogetherinaNamaste.‘Greetings,braveShaktivel.’ShaktivelreturnedRam’sgreeting.‘Namaste,greatPrince.’Hepointedtothebundlesbeingcarefully

laid on the ground by his men. ‘As requested by you, all your weapons have been repaired, shone,polished,andsharpened.’Rampickedupasword,examineditsedgeandsmiled.‘Theyareasgoodasnew.’Shaktivel’schestswelledwithpride.‘OurmetalsmithsareamongthebestinIndia.’‘Theyclearlyare,’saidSita,examiningaspearclosely.‘PrinceRam,’saidShaktivel,comingclose,‘aprivateword.’RamsignalledSitatofollowhim,ashewaspulledasidebyShaktivel.‘Youmayneedtoleaveinhaste,’saidShaktivel.‘Why?’askedasurprisedSita.‘Vali.’‘Someonewantedhimdead?’askedRam.‘So,they’reangrywithusnow?’‘No,no.ValiistheonewhoisangrywithPrincessSitaandyou.’‘What?!Wejustsavedhislife.’Shaktivelsighed.‘Hedoesn’tseeitthatway.Accordingtohim,thetwoofyouandPrinceLakshman

madehimlosehishonour.He’dratherhavediedintheJallikattuarenathanberescuedbysomeoneelse.’RamlookedatSita,hiseyeswideinsurprise.‘Itisnotinmytown’sinteresttohaveroyalfamiliesfighteachotherhere,’saidShaktivel,foldinghis

handstogetherinapology.‘Whentwoelephantsfight,thegrassisthefirsttogettrampled.’Sitasmiled.‘Iknowthatline.’‘It’sapopularline,’saidShaktivel.‘Especiallyamongthosewhoarenotfromtheelite.’RamplacedhishandonShaktivel’sshoulder.‘Youhavebeenourhost.Youhavebeenafriend.Wedo

notwanttocauseyouanytrouble.We’llleavebeforedaybreak.Thankyouforyourhospitality.’

Ram,Sita,andLakshmanhadbeeninexilefortwenty-fourmonthsnow.ThefifteenMalayaputrasoldiersaccompaniedthemeverywhere.Eachmemberofthesmallpartyhadsettledintoanestablishedroutine,astheymoveddeeperintothe

forestsofDandak.Theywereheadedinthewestwarddirection,buthadnotbeenabletofindasuitableenoughpermanentcamp.Theyusuallystayedinoneplaceforashortwhilebeforemovingon.Standardperimeter and security formations had been agreed upon. Cooking, cleaning, and hunting duties weresharedbyrotation.Sincenoteveryoneinthecampatemeat,huntingwasn’trequiredoften.Ononeofthesehuntingtrips,aMalayaputracalledMakranthadbeengoredbyaboarwhiletryingto

saveSita’slife.Thewildboar’stuskhadcutupwardsthroughtheupperquadricepsmusclesonhisthigh,piercingthefemoralartery.Fortunately,theothertuskoftheboarhadhitthehardpelvicbone;thus,ithad

notpushedthroughandpenetrateddeeperwhereitwouldhaverupturedtheintestines.Thatwouldhavebeenfatalastheresultantinfectionwouldhavebeenimpossibletotreatintheirtemporarycamp.Makranthadsurvived,buthisrecoveryhadnotbeenideal.Hisquadricepsmuscleswerestillweakandthearteryhadnothealedcompletely,remainingpartiallycollapsed.Hestilllimpedagreatdeal;aconditionwhichcouldbedangerousforasoldierinthehazardousjungle.BecauseoftheinjuryitwasimpossibleforMakranttomoveeasilythroughtheforest.So,theyhadnot

movedcampforsometime.Makranthadbeensufferingforafewmonths.Jatayuknewsomethinghadtobedone.And,heknewthe

cureaswell.Hesimplyhadtosteelhimselfforthejourney…‘ThewatersofWalkeshwar?’askedSita.‘Yes,’saidJatayu.‘Theholylakeemergesfromanaturalspringburstingoutfromdeepunderground,

whichmeansitpicksupspecificmineralsonitswaytothesurface.Thosemineralsinfusethewaterswiththeir divine goodness.Thatwaterwill helpMakrant’s arteries recover quickly.We can also get somemedicinal herbs from the islandwhichwill helphis partly atrophiedmuscles to recover fully.He canhavethefulluseofhislegsagain.’‘WhereisWalkeshwar,Jatayuji?’‘It’s in a small island called Mumbadevi on the west coast. Specifically, the northern part of the

Konkancoast.’‘Weren’twesupposedtostopatanislandclosetoitforsuppliesonourwaytoAgastyakootam?An

islandcalledColaba?’‘Yes.Ourcaptainhadthoughtitwouldbeagoodideatostopthere.Ihadadvisedagainstit.’‘Yes.Iremember.’‘MumbadeviisthebigislandtothenorthwestofColaba.’‘So,Mumbadeviisoneofthatgroupofsevenislands?’‘Yes,greatVishnu.’‘YouhadadvisedagainststoppingtheresinceitisamajorseabaseforRaavan’sforces.’‘Yes,greatVishnu.’Sitasmiled.‘Then,it’sprobablynotagoodideaforRamandmetoaccompanyyou.’Jatayudidn’tsmileatSita’swryhumour.‘Yes,greatVishnu.’‘ButtheLankanswillnotdarehurtaMalayaputra,right?’FearflashedmomentarilyinJatayu’seyes,buthisvoicewasevenandcalm.‘No,theywon’t…’Sitafrowned.‘Jatayuji,istheresomethingyouneedtotellme?’Jatayushookhishead.‘Everythingwillbefine.Iwilltakethreemenwithme.Therestofyoushould

stayhere.Iwillbebackintwomonths.’Instinctkickedin.Sitaknewsomethingwaswrong.‘Jatayuji,isthereaprobleminMumbadevi?’Jatayushookhishead. ‘Ineed toprepare to leave,greatVishnu.YouandPrinceRamshouldremain

encampedhere.’

ItwasdarkwhenJatayuandthe threesoldiersreachedtheshorelineof themainland.Acrossanarrowstrait, they saw the seven islands that abutted the southof the far largerSalsette Island.Torchlightsonhouses and tall lamp towers on streets and public structures had lit up the central and eastern side ofSalsette Island.Clearly, the townhadexpandedon this, the largest island, in thearea. Itwas ten timesbiggerthanthesevenislandstothesouthputtogether!Itwaslogicalthatafast-growingtownhadcomeuphere.Therewerelargefreshwaterlakesinthecentreoftheisland.Andenoughopenareatobuildalargetown.Crossingintothemainlandwaseasysincethecreekthatseparateditwasnarrowandshallow.

There had been a time when the seven islands to the south of Salsette had been the centre of allcivilisationinthearea.TheislandofMumbadevihadawonderfulharbouronitseasternshores,whichworkedwell for largerships.Theportbuiltat thatharbourstillexisted.Andclearly, itwasstillbusy.Jatayucouldalsoseelightsontheotherfoursmallerislandsontheeasternside:Parel,Mazgaon,LittleColaba,andColaba.ButthewesternislandsofMahimandWorliwerenotclearlyvisible.ThehillsatthewesternendofMumbadevi,whereWalkeshwarwas,weretallenoughtobeseenfrom

acrossthestraits,duringtheday.Infact,thehillshadoncebeenvisibleatnightaswell.Forthat’swherethemainpalaces,temples,andstructuresoftheoldcitywere.Andtheyhadalwaysbeenwelllit.ButJatayucouldn’tseeathingthere.Notorchlights.Nolamptowers.Nosignofhabitation.Walkeshwarremainedabandoned.Itremainedinruin.Jatayu shivered as he remembered those terrible days.The timewhenhe hadbeen a young soldier.

WhenRaavan’shordeshadcome…Herememberedonlytoowell.Forhehadbeenoneofthehorde.LordParshuRam,forgiveme…Forgivemeformysins…‘Captain,’saidoneoftheMalayaputrasoldiers.‘Shouldwecrossnowor…’Jatayuturnedaround.‘No.We’llcrossinthemorning.We’llresthereforthenight.’

Jatayu tossed and turned as he tried to sleep.Memories that he had buried deepwithin himselfwereburstingthroughtohisconsciousness.Nightmaresfromhislong-hiddenpast.Memoriesofwhenhewasyounger.Many,manyyearsago.Raavanusedourownpeopletoconquerus.Jatayusatup.Hecouldseetheislandsacrossthecreek.Whenhehadbeenateenager,Jatayuhadcarriedthepain,theanger,ofbeingill-treatedasaNaga.As

someone who was deformed. But Nagas weren’t the only ones ill-treated. Many communities hadcomplaints against the rigid, supercilious, and chauvinistic elite of the Sapt Sindhu. And Raavan hadseemed likea rebel-hero,a saviourof sorts tomanyof them.He tookon thepowers-that-be.And, thedisenchantedflockedtohim.Foughtforhim.Killedforhim.And,wereusedbyhim.Jatayuhad,atthattime,enjoyedthefeelingofvengeance.Ofhittingoutatthehated,self-absorbedelite.

UntilthetimethathisunithadbeenorderedtojoinanAhiRaavan.Raavan’s forces were divided into two groups. One group commanded the land territories, with

commanderscalledMahiRaavansincharge.Andtheothergroupcommandedtheseasandtheports,withcommanderscalledAhiRaavansincontrol.ItwaswithonesuchAhiRaavancalledPrahast thatJatayuhadbeenordered tocometoMumbadevi

anditssevenislands.These seven islandswere peopled by theDevendrar community at the time, led by a kindlyman

calledIndran.Mumbadeviandtheothersixislandswereanentrepot,withgoodsstoredforimportandexport with minimal custom duties. The liberal Devendrars provided supplies and refuge to anyseafarer,withoutfavourordiscrimination.Theytreatedeveryonewithkindness.Theybelieveditwastheirsacreddutytodoso.Onesuchseafarer,whohadbeenprovidedrefugeforsometime,wasJatayu,whenhewasveryyoung.Herememberedthatkindnesswell.ItwasarareplaceinIndia,whereJatayuhadnotbeentreated like theplague.Hehadbeenwelcomedlikeanormalperson.Theshockof thecompassion had been so overwhelming that he had cried himself to sleep that first night inMumbadevi,unabletohandlethefloodofemotions.And many years later, he had returned, as part of an army sent to conquer that very same

MumbadeviIsland.

Raavan’sstrategicreasonswereobvious.Hewantedabsolutecontroloverall theseatradeintheIndianOcean; thehubofglobal trade.Whoeverdominated thisOcean,dominated theentireworld.AndonlywithabsolutecontrolcouldRaavanenforcehisusuriouscustomsduties.HehadconqueredormanagedtogaincontrolovermostofthemajorportsacrosstheIndiansubcontinentandthecoastsofArabia,Africa,andSouth-eastAsia.Thoseportsfollowedhisrules.But Mumbadevi stubbornly refused to charge high custom or turn away any sailor who sought

refuge there. Its inhabitantsbelieved this servicewas theirduty.Theirdharma.Raavanhad togaincontroloverthisimportantharbouronthesearoutebetweentheIndus-SaraswaticoastsandLanka.AhiRaavanPrahast had been sent to negotiate a solution. And, if needed, force a solution. The

LankanArmyhad beenwaiting, camped in their ships, anchored at theMumbadevi harbour, off itseastern coast. For a week. Nothing had happened. Finally, they had been ordered to march toWalkeshwar,thewesternpartofMumbadevi,wherethepalaceandatemplededicatedtoLordRudrahadbeenbuilt,rightnexttoanatural-spring-filledlake.Jatayu,beingajuniorsoldier,wasatthebackoftheline.He knew theDevendrars couldn’t fight. Theywere a peaceful community of seafarers, engineers,

doctors, philosophers, and storytellers. There were very few warriors among them. Jatayu hopeddesperatelythatacompromisehadbeenreached.Thescenehesawatthemaintownsquare,outsideofthepalace,baffledhim.It was completely deserted. Not a soul in sight. All the shops were open. Goods displayed. But

nobodytotendto,orevensecurethem.Atthecentreofthesquarewasamassivepileofcorkwood,withsomemixtureofholysandalwood.It

washeld inplacebyametallicmesh.Alldrenched in freshghee. It hadclearlybeenbuilt recently.Perhaps,thepreviousnightitself.It was like a very large unlit cremation pyre. Humongous. Massive enough to potentially

accommodatehundredsofbodies.Ithadawalkwayleadinguptoitstop.Prahasthadcomeinexpectingaceremonialsurrender,ashehaddemanded,andthenthepeaceful

expulsion of theDevendrars. Thiswas unexpected.He immediatelymade his troops fall into battleformations.Sanskrit chants were emanating from behind the palace walls. Accompanied by the clanging of

sacredbellsandthebeatingofdrums.IttooksometimefortheLankanstodiscernthewordsofthechants.TheywerefromtheGarudaPurana.Hymnsusuallysungduringadeathceremony.WhatweretheDevendrarsthinking?Theirpalacewallswerenottoughenoughtowithstandanassault.

Theydidnothaveenoughsoldierstotakeonthefive-thousand-strongLankanArmy.Suddenly, smoke began to plume out of the palace compound. Thick, acrid smoke. The wooden

palacehadbeensetonfire.Andthen,thegateswereflungopen.Prahast’sorderwasloudandclear.‘Draw!Andhold!’All the Lankans immediately drew their weapons. Holding their line. In military discipline.

Expectinganattack…Indran,thekingoftheDevendrars,ledhispeopleoutofthepalace.Allofthem.Hisentirefamily.

Thepriests,traders,workmen,intellectuals,doctors,artists.Men,women,children.Allhiscitizens.AlltheDevendrars.Theyallworesaffronrobes.Thecolouroffire,ofLordAgni.Thecolourofthefinaljourney.Everysinglefacewasapictureofcalm.Theywerestillchanting.

Every Devendrar carried gold coins and jewellery. Each one carried a fortune. And each onecarriedasmallbottle.Indranwalkedupthepathwaytothestandthatoverhungthemassivepileofwood.Henoddedathis

people.TheyflungtheirgoldcoinsandjewelleryattheLankansoldiers.Indran’svoicecarriedloudandclear.‘Youcantakeallourmoney!Youcantakeourlives!Butyou

cannotforceustoactagainstourdharma!’TheLankansoldiersstoodstunned.Notknowinghowtoreact.Theylookedattheircommanderfor

instructions.Prahastbellowed loudly. ‘King Indran, thinkwell before youact.LordRaavan is theKingofall

threeWorlds.EventheGodsfearhim.Yoursoulwillbecursed.Takeyourgoldandleave.Surrenderandyoushallbeshownmercy!’Indransmiledkindly.‘Wewillneversurrenderourdharma.’Thenthekingof theDevendrarslookedat theLankansoldiers.‘Saveyoursouls.Youalonecarry

the fruitofyourkarma.Nooneelse.Youcannotescapeyourkarmabyclaiming thatyouwereonlyfollowingorders.Saveyoursouls.Choosewell.’SomeLankansoldiersseemedtobewavering.Theweaponsintheirhandsshaking.‘Holdyourweapons!’shoutedPrahast.‘Thisisatrick!’Indrannodded to his headpriest. Thepriest steppedup to thepile ofwoodand stuckaburning

torchdeepintoit.Itcaughtfireimmediately.Thepyrewasready.Indranpulledouthissmallbottleandtookadeepswig.Possiblyapainreliever.‘All Iask is thatyounot insultourGods.Thatyounotdefileour temples.’ Indran thenstaredat

Prahastwithpity.‘Therestisforyoutodoasyouwill.’Prahastorderedhissoldiersagain.‘Steady.Nobodymove!’Indranpulledhishands together intoaNamasteand lookedupat the sky. ‘JaiRudra! JaiParshu

Ram!’Sayingthis,Indranjumpedintothepyre.Jatayuscreamedinagony.‘Noooo!’TheLankansoldiersweretooshockedtoreact.‘Don’tmove!’screamedPrahastathissoldiersagain.AlltheotherDevendrarstooktheirpotionsandstartedrunningupthewalkway.Jumpingintothe

mass pyre. Rapidly. In groups. Every single one. Men, women, children. Following their leader.Followingtheirking.TherewereonethousandDevendrars.Ittooksometimeforallofthemtojumpin.NoLankansteppeduptostopthem.AfewofficersclosetoPrahast,tothedisgustofmany,started

picking through the gold jewellery thrown by the Devendrars. Selecting the best for themselves.Discussing the value of their loot with each other. Even as the Devendrars were committing masssuicide.ButthemajorityoftheLankansoldiersjuststoodthere.Toostunnedtodoanything.AsthelastoftheDevendrarsfelltohisfieryend,Prahastlookedaround.Hecouldseetheshocked

expressionsofmanyofhissoldiers.Heburstoutlaughing.‘Don’tbesad,mysoldiers.Allthegoldwillbedividedupequallyamongyou.Youwillallmakemoremoney today thanyouhavemade inyourentirelives!Smile!Youarerichnow!’Thewordsdidnothavethedesiredimpact.Manyhadbeenjoltedtotheirsouls.Sickenedbywhat

theyhadwitnessed.Within less thanaweek,more thanhalfofPrahast’sarmyhaddeserted.Jatayuwasoneofthem.Theycouldn’tfightforRaavananymore.TheloudsoundofthewavescrashingagainsthardrocksbroughtJatayubackfromthatpainfulmemory.

His bodywas shaking.Tears pouring fromhis eyes.Heheld his hands together in supplication, hisheadbowed.HegatheredthecouragetolookacrossthestraitsatMumbadevi.AtthehillsofWalkeshwar.‘Forgiveme,KingIndran…Forgiveme…’Buttherewasnorespitefromtheguilt.

IthadbeenafewmonthssinceJatayu’sreturnfromMumbadevi.ThemedicinefromWalkeshwarhaddonewondersforMakrant.Thelimphadreduceddramatically.He

couldwalkalmostnormallyagain.Theatrophiedmuscleswereslowlyregainingstrength.ItwasobviousthatwithinamatterofmonthsMakrantwould regain the fulluseofhis legs.SomeMalayaputraswereevenplanninghuntswithhim.SitahadtriedafewtimestoaskJatayuwhythementionofMumbadevicausedhimsuchdistress.But

hadgivenupovertime.Earlytoday,shehadstolenawayfromthegrouptomeetHanumanatasecretlocation.‘Prince Ram and you need to settle down at one place, princess,’ said Hanuman. ‘Your constant

movementmakesitdifficultformetokeeptrackofyou.’‘Iknow,’saidSita.‘Butwehaven’tfoundasecureplaceyet.’‘Ihaveaplace inmindforyou.It’sclose towater. It’sdefendable.Youwillbeable toforagefood

easily.Thereisenoughhuntavailable.And,it’scloseenoughformetotrackyou.’‘Whereisit?’‘It’snearthesourceoftheholyGodavari.’‘Allright.I’lltakethedetailsfromyou.And,how’s…’‘Radhika?’Sitanodded.Hanumansmiledapologetically.‘She’s…She’smovedon.’‘Movedon?’‘She’smarriednow.’Sitawasshocked.‘Married?’‘Yes.’Sitaheldherbreath.‘PoorBharat…’‘IhaveheardthatBharatstilllovesher.’‘Idon’tthinkhe’llevergetoverher…’‘I’dheardsomethingonce:Bettertohavelovedandlostthannevertohavelovedatall.’SitalookedatHanuman.‘Forgiveme,Hanubhaiya, Idon’tmeantoberude.Butonlysomeonewho

hasneverlovedatallcansaysomethinglikethat.’Hanumanshruggedhisshoulders.‘Pointtaken.Inanycase,thelocationforthecamp…’

Chapter30

SixyearshadlapsedsinceRam,Sita,andLakshmanhadgoneintoexile.The band of nineteen had finally settled along the western banks of the early course of themighty

Godavari, atPanchavati.Or theplace of the five banyan trees. The site suggested byHanuman. Theriver provided natural protection to the small, rustic, yet comfortable camp. Themainmud hut at thecentreofthecamphadtworooms—oneforRamandSita,andtheotherforLakshman—andanopenclearingforexerciseandassembly.AnotherclusterofhutstotheeasthousedJatayuandhisband.The perimeter of this camp had two circular fences. The one on the outside was covered with

poisonouscreepers tokeepanimalsout.The fenceon the insidecomprisednagavalli creepers, riggedwithanalarmsystem.Itconsistedofacontinuousropethatranallthewaytoaverylargewoodencage,filledwithbirds.Thebirdswerewelllookedafterandreplacedeverymonthwithnewones.Ifanyonemadeitpasttheouterfenceandattemptedtoenterthenagavallihedge,thealarmsystemwouldtriggertheopeningofthebirdcageroof.Thenoisyflutterofescapingbirdswouldofferpreciousminutesofwarningtotheinmatesatthecamp.Ram,Sita,andLakshmanhadfaceddangersinthesesixyears,butnotduetoanyhumanintervention.

Theoccasionalscarsservedasremindersoftheiradventuresinthejungle,buttheSomrashadensuredthat they looked and felt as young as the day they had left Ayodhya. Exposure to the harsh sun haddarkenedtheirskin.Ramhadalwaysbeendark-skinned,buteventhefair-skinnedSitaandLakshmanhadacquired a bronze tone.RamandLakshmanhadgrownbeards andmoustaches,making them look likewarrior-sages.Lifehadfallenintoapredictablepattern.RamandSitalikedtogototheGodavaribanksintheearly

morninghourstobatheandsharesomeprivatetimetogether.Theirfavouritetimeoftheday.Thiswasonesuchday.Theyhadwashed theirhair thepreviousday.Therewasnoneed towash it

again.Theyhadtieditupinabunwhilebathing.Aftertheirbathintheclearwatersoftheriver,theysatonthebankseatingarepastoffreshberriesandfruit.RamlaywithhisheadonSita’slap.Shewasplayingwithhishair.Herfingersgotstuckinaknot.She

gently tried to ease it out and untangle the hair.Ramprotestedmildly, but the hair came loose easily,withoutanyneedtoyankit.Sitasmiled.‘See,Icandoitgentlyaswell.’Ramlaughed.‘Sometimes…’RamranhishandthroughSita’shair.Ithunglooseoverhershoulder,downtowherehisheadlayon

herlap.‘Iamboredwithyourponytail.’Sitashrugged.‘It’suptoyoutotiesomeotherknot.It’sopennow…’‘I’lldothat,’saidRam,holdingSita’shandandlookinglazilytowardstheriver.‘Butlater.Whenwe

getup.’SitasmiledandcontinuedtoruffleRam’shair.‘Ram…’‘Hmm?’‘Ineedtotellyousomething.’‘What?’

‘Aboutourconversationyesterday.’RamturnedtowardsSita.‘Iwaswonderingwhenyouwouldbringthatup.’SitaandRamhadspokenaboutmanythingsthepreviousday.Mostimportantly,ofVashishtha’sbelief

thatRamwouldbethenextVishnu.RamhadthenaskedwhoSita’sguruwas.ButSitahadsidesteppedtheanswer.‘Thereshouldbenosecretsinamarriage.Ishouldtellyouwhomyguruis.Orwas.’RamlookeddirectlyintoSita’seyes.‘GuruVishwamitra.’Sitawasshocked.Hereyesgaveitaway.Ramhadguessedcorrectly.Ramsmiled.‘I’mnotblind,youknow.Onlyafavouritestudentcouldgetawaywithsayingthekindof

thingsthatyouhadsaidtoGuruVishwamitrainmypresencethatdayinMithila.’‘Thenwhydidn’tyousayanything?’‘Iwaswaitingforyoutotrustmeenoughtotellme.’‘Ihavealwaystrustedyou,Ram.’‘Yes,butonlyasawife.Somesecretsaretoobigevenforamarriage.IknowwhotheMalayaputras

are.IknowwhatyourbeingGuruVishwamitra’sfavouritedisciplemeans.’Sitasighed,‘Itwassillyofmetowaitforsolong.Passageoftimemakesasimpleconversationmore

complicatedthannecessary.Iprobablyshouldnothavelistenedto…’‘That’swater under the bridge.’ Ram sat up andmoved close to Sita.He held her hands and said,

‘Now,tellme.’Sitatookadeepbreath.Nervousforsomereason.‘TheMalayaputrasbelieveIamtheirVishnu.’RamsmiledandlookeddirectlyintoSita’seyes,withrespect.‘Ihaveknownyouforyears.Heardso

manyofyourideas.YouwillmakeagreatVishnu.Iwillbeproudtofollowyou.’‘Don’tfollow.Partner.’Ramfrowned.‘Why can’t there be two Vishnus? If we work together, we can end this stupid fight between the

MalayaputrasandVayuputras.WecanallworktogetherandsetIndiaonanewpath.’‘I’mnotsureitisallowed,Sita.AVishnucannotbeginherjourneybybreakingthelaw.Iwillfollow

you.’‘ThereisnorulethatdictatesthattherecanbejustoneVishnu.’‘Umm…’‘Iknow,Ram.Thereisnosuchrule.Trustme.’‘All right, assuming there isn’t, you and I can certainly work together. I’m sure that even the

Malayaputras and Vayuputras can learn to work together. But what about Guru Vashishtha and GuruVishwamitra?Their enmity runs deep.And theMalayaputraswill still have to acknowledgeme.Withthingsbetweenourgurusbeingthewaytheyare…’‘We’llhandlethat,’saidSita,assheinchedclosetoRamandembracedhim.‘I’msorryIdidn’ttellyou

forsolong.’‘Ithoughtyouwouldtellmeyesterday,whenyouweretyingmyhair.That’swhyItouchedyourcheeks

andwaited.ButIguessyouweren’tready…’‘Youknow,GuruVashishthabelieves…’‘Sita, Guru Vashishtha is just like Guru Vishwamitra. He is brilliant. But he is human. He can

sometimesreadsituationsincorrectly.Imaybeadevoteeofthelaw,butIamnotanidiot.’Sitalaughed.‘I’msorryIdidn’ttrustyouearlier.’Ram smiled. ‘Yes. You should be. And remember, we are married. So, I can use this against you

anytimeinthefuture.’Sitaburstintopealsoflaughterandhitherhusband’sshoulderplayfully.Ramheldherhands,pulled

hercloseandkissedher.Theyheldeachotherincompanionablesilence.LookingattheGodavari.

‘Whatdowedofornow?’askedSita.‘There’snothingtodotillourexileisover.Wecanjustprepare…’‘GuruVashishthahasacceptedme.So,Idon’tthinkhewillhaveaproblemwithourpartnership.’‘ButGuruVishwamitra…He’llnotacceptme.’‘Youdon’tholdanythingagainsthim?ForwhathedidinMithila?’‘HewastryingtosavehisVishnu.Hislife’swork.Hewasworkingforthegoodofourmotherland.I’m

notsayingIcondonehiscavalierattitudetowardsthedaiviastras.ButIunderstandwherehewascomingfrom.’‘So,wedon’ttelltheMalayaputrasanythingaboutwhatwehavedecidedfornow?’‘No.Infact,I’mnotevensurewecantelltheVayuputrasfornow…Let’swait.’‘ThereisoneVayuputrawecantell.’‘HowdoyouknowanyVayuputra?GuruVashishthahadconsistentlyrefusedtointroducemetoanyof

themtillIwasacceptedbyallasaVishnu.Itcouldhavecausedproblems.’‘Iwasn’tintroducedtohimbyGuruVashishthaeither!Igottoknowhimthroughsheergoodfortune.I

methimthroughafriendatmygurukul.Ibelievehecanadviseandhelpus.’‘Whoishe?’‘HeisRadhika’scousin.’‘Radhika!Bharat’sRadhika?’Sitasmiledsadly.‘Yes…’‘YouknowBharatstilllovesher,right?’‘Ihaveheard…But…’‘Yes,thelawinhertribe…IhadtoldBharattonotpursueher…’SitaknewRadhika’sreasoningwasdifferent.ButtherewasnopointinrevealingthattoRam.Itwas

waterunderthebridge.‘Whatisherbrother’sname?TheVayuputra?’‘Hanubhaiya.’‘Hanubhaiya?’‘That’swhatIcallhim.TheworldknowshimasLordHanuman.’

Hanumansmiled,foldedhishandstogetherandbowedhishead.‘IbowtotheVishnu,LadySita.IbowtotheVishnu,LordRam.’RamandSitalookedateachother,embarrassed.Sita and Ram had told Lakshman and theMalayaputras that they were going on a hunt. They had,

instead,stolenawaytoaclearingatleastahalf-dayaway.TheyhadtakenaboatridedownstreamontheGodavari,whereHanumanwaswaitingforthem.SitahadintroducedRamtoHanuman.Andtoldhimoftheirdecision.Hanumanseemedtoacceptthedecisionveryeasily.Evenwelcomingit.‘ButdoyouthinkGuruVishwamitraandGuruVashishthawillagree?’askedSita.‘Idon’tknow,’saidHanuman.ThenlookingatRam,hecontinued,‘GuruVishwamitrawasveryangry

thatGuruVashishthahastoldyouthatheexpectsyoutobetheVishnu.’Ramremainedsilent.Hanumancontinued.‘YourbrotherLakshmanisabraveandloyalman.Hewilldieforyou.Buthecan,

sometimes,letoutsecretsthatheshouldn’t.’Ramsmiledapologetically.‘Yes,hesaiditinfrontofArishtanemiji.Lakshmandoesn’tmeananyharm.

Heis…’‘Ofcourse,’agreedHanuman.‘Heisveryproudofyou.Helovesyouagreatdeal.Butbecauseofthat

love,hesometimesmakesmistakes.Pleasedon’tmisunderstand.ButIwouldsuggestthatyoudon’ttellhimaboutyourlittlearrangement.Or,aboutmeforthatmatter.Atleastfornow.’Ramnodded.Agreeing.‘WhatisthereasonfortheenmitybetweenGuruVashishthaandGuruVishwamitra?’askedSita.‘Ihave

neverbeenabletofindout.’‘Yes,’saidRam.‘EvenGuruVashishtharefusestospeakaboutit.’‘Iamnotsureeither,’saidHanuman.‘ButIhaveheardthatawomancalledNandinimayhaveplayeda

role.’‘Really?’askedSita.‘Awomancausedtheriftbetweenthem?Whatacliché.’Hanumansmiled.‘Apparently,therewereotherproblemsaswell.Butnobodyissure.Thesearejust

speculations.’‘Anyway,what’smoreimportantis,doyouthinktheMalayaputrasandVayuputrascancometogether

onthis?’askedRam.‘WilltheyagreetothetwoofusbeingVishnus?I’vebeentoldbySitathatthereisnolawagainstit.ButitiscertainlyagainstthestandardprotocolforVishnusandMahadevs,right?’Hanuman laughed softly. ‘Prince Ram, do you know how long the institutions of the Vishnu and

Mahadevhavebeenrunning?’Ramshrugged.‘Idon’tknow.Thousandsofyears?SinceLordManu’stimes,Iguess.Ifnotearlier.’‘Right. And do you know exactly how many Vishnus and Mahadevs, in the many millennia, have

actuallyemergedaccordingtotheplansandprotocolslaiddownbythetribesleftbehindbythepreviousVishnuorMahadev?’RamlookedatSita.Andthen,backatHanuman.‘Idon’tknow.’Hanuman’seyesweretwinkling.‘Preciselyzero.’‘Really?’‘Notonce,notoncehasanyVishnuorMahadevemergedexactlyaccordingtoplan.Thebestlaidplans

alwayshaveatendencytogetspoilt.Therehavealwaysbeensurprises.’Ramlaughedsoftly.‘Weareacountrythatdoesnotlikeorderandplans.’‘Thatweare!’saidHanuman.‘TheMahadevsortheVishnusdidn’tsucceedintheirmissionsbecause

“planswere implementedexactly”.Theysucceededbecause theywerewilling togive theirall forourgreat land. And theywere followed bymanywho also felt exactly the sameway. That is the secret.Passion.Notplans.’‘So,youthinkwewillsucceedingettingtheMalayaputrasandVayuputrastoagree?’askedSita.‘Ofcoursewewill,’answeredHanuman.‘Don’t theyloveIndia?But ifyouaskmehowexactlywe

willsucceed,myansweris:Idon’tknow.Noplansasofyet!Butwehavetime.NothingcanbedonetillthebothofyoureturntotheSaptSindhu.’

Ithadbeenmore than thirteenyearsofexilenow. In less thanayear,Ram,Sita,andLakshmanwouldheadbacktotheSaptSindhuandbegintheirlife’sgreatestkarma.Hanumanhad,overtime,managedtoget theVayuputras toacceptSita.AndArishtanemi,alongwithafewotherMalayaputras,hadbeguntofavourRam.Vashishtha, of course, hadnoproblemwithRamandSitabeing theVishnus together.ButVishwamitra…well, hewas anothermatter altogether. If he held out, theMalayaputras could not becounted on to be completely on board. After all, they were a relatively disciplined organisation thatfollowedtheirleader.ButthiswasnotoccupyingthemindsofRamandSitarightnow.Theyloungedaroundintheirsection

ofthecamp,watchingthesettingsunasitcolouredtheskywithglorioushues.Unexpectedly, theavianalarmsystemwastriggered;theflockofbirdsinthecagehadsuddenlyflutteredawaynoisily.Someone

hadbreachedtheircampperimeter.‘Whatwasthat?’askedLakshman.Ram’sinstinctstoldhimthattheintruderswerenotanimals.‘Weapons,’orderedRamcalmly.Sita and Lakshman tied their sword scabbards around their waist. Lakshman handedRam his bow,

beforepickinguphisown.Thebrothersquicklystrungtheirbows.Jatayuandhismenrushedin,armedand ready, just asRamandLakshman tiedquivers fullof arrows to theirbacks.Sitapickedupa longspear,asRam tiedhis swordscabbard tohiswaist.Theyalreadyworea smallerknife scabbard, tiedhorizontallyacrossthesmalloftheirbacks;aweapontheykeptontheirpersonatalltimes.‘Whocouldtheybe?’askedJatayu.‘Idon’tknow,’saidRam.‘Lakshman’sWall?’askedSita.Lakshman’sWallwasaningeniousdefensivefeaturedesignedbyhimtotheeastofthemainhut.Itwas

fivefeetinheight;itcoveredthreesidesofasmallsquarecompletely,leavingtheinnersidefacingthemainhutpartiallyopen;likeacubicle.Theentirestructuregavetheimpressionthatitwasanenclosedkitchen.Infact,thecubiclewasbare,providingadequatemobilitytowarriors.Butunseenbyenemiesontheother sideof thewall.Theywouldhave tobeon their knees, though.A small tandoor, acookingplatform, emerged on the outside from the south-facing wall. Half the enclosure was roof-covered,completingthecamouflageofacookingarea.Itaffordedprotectionfromenemyarrows.Thesouth,east,andnorth-facingwallsweredrilledwithwell-spacedholes.Theseholeswerenarrow

ontheinnersideandbroadontheouterside,givingtheimpressionofventilationrequiredforcooking.Their actual purpose was to give those on the inside a good view of the approaching enemy, whilepreventingthoseontheoutsidefromlookingin.Theholescouldalsobeusedtoshootarrows.Madefrommud,itwasnotstrongenoughtowithstandasustainedassaultbyalargeforce.Havingsaidthat,itwasgood enough for defence against small bands sent on assassination bids. Which is what Lakshmansuspectedtheywouldface.DesignedbyLakshman,ithadbeenbuiltbyeveryoneinthecamp;Makranthadnamedit‘Lakshman’s

Wall’.‘Yes,’saidRam.Everyonerushedtothewallandcrouchedlow,keepingtheirweaponsready.Waiting.Lakshman hunched over and peeped through a hole in the south-facing wall. Straining his eye, he

detectedasmallbandoftenpeoplemarchingintothecamppremises.Ledbyamanandawoman.Themanintheleadwasofaverageheight.Unusuallyfair-skinned.Hisreed-thinphysiquewasthatofa

runner;thismanwasnowarrior.Despitehisfrailshouldersandthinarms,hewalkedasifhehadboilsinhisarmpits;pretendingtoaccommodateimpressivebiceps.LikemostIndianmen,hehadlong,jetblackhair thatwas tied inaknotat thebackofhishead.His fullbeardwasneatly trimmed,andcolouredadeepbrown.Heworeaclassicbrowndhotiandanangvastramthatwasashadelighter.Hisjewellerywasrichbutunderstated:pearlearstudsandathincopperbracelet.Helookeddishevelled.Asthoughhehadbeenontheroadfortoolong,withoutachangeofclothes.Thewomanbesidehimfaintlyresembledtheman,possiblyhissister.Bewitching.Almostasshortas

Urmila. Skin as white as snow. It should have made her look pale and sickly. Instead, she wasdistractinglybeautiful.Sharp,slightlyupturnednose.Highcheekbones.ShealmostlookedlikeaParihan.Unlikethem,though,herhairwasblonde,amostunusualcolour.Everystrandofitwasinplace.Hereyesweremagnetic.PerhapsshewasthechildofHiranyalomanMlechchas:fair-skinned,light-eyed,andlight-haired foreigners who lived half a world away towards the north-west. Their violent ways andincomprehensiblespeechhadledtotheIndianscallingthembarbarians.Butthisladywasnobarbarian.Quitethecontrary,shewaselegant,slim,andpetite,exceptforbreaststhatweredisproportionatelylarge

for her body. Shewore a classic, expensively dyed purple dhoti, which shone like thewaters of theSarayu.Perhapsitwasthelegendarysilkclothfromthefar-easternpartsofIndia;onethatonlytherichestcouldaffordnow.ForRaavanhadestablishedacompletemonopolyonitandhadjackeduptheprices.The dhoti was tied fashionably low, exposing her flat tummy and slim, curvaceous waist. Her silkenblouse was a tiny sliver of cloth, affording a generous view of her cleavage. Her angvastram haddeliberatelybeen lefthanging loose fromashoulder, insteadofacross thebody.Extravagant jewellerycompletedthepictureofexcess.Theonlyincongruitywastheknifescabbardtiedtoherwaist.Shewasavisiontobehold.RamcastaquickglanceatSita.‘Whoarethey?’Sitashrugged.ItwasquicklyclarifiedbytheMalayaputrasthatthemanwasRaavan’syoungerhalf-brotherVibhishan,

andthewomanhishalf-sisterShurpanakha.A soldier next toVibhishan held aloft awhite flag, the colour of peace. They obviouslywanted to

parley.Themysterywas,whatdidtheywanttotalkabout?Andwhethertherewasanysubterfugeinvolved.Ramlookedthroughtheholeagain,andthenturnedtowardshispeople.‘Wewillallstepouttogether.

Itwillstopthemfromattemptingsomethingstupid.’‘Thatiswise,’saidJatayu.‘Comeon,’ saidRam,ashe steppedout frombehind theprotectivewallwithhis righthand raised,

signifying that hemeant no harm.Everyone else followedRam’s example and troopedout tomeet thehalf-siblingsofRaavan.VibhishannervouslystoppedinhistracksthemomenthiseyesfellonRam,Sita,Lakshman,andtheir

soldiers.Helookedsidewaysathissister,asifuncertainaboutthenextcourseofaction.ButShurpanakhahadeyesonlyforRam.Shestaredathim,unashamedly.AlookofrecognitionflashedacrossasurprisedVibhishan’sfacewhenhesawJatayu.Ram,Lakshman,andSitawalkedinthelead,withJatayuandhissoldiersfollowingclosebehind.As

theforest-dwellersreachedtheLankans,Vibhishanstraightenedhisback,puffeduphischestandspokewithanairofself-importance.‘Wecomeinpeace,KingofAyodhya.’‘Wewantpeaceaswell,’ saidRam, loweringhis righthand.Hispeopledid the same.Hemadeno

commentonthe‘KingofAyodhya’greeting.‘Whatbringsyouhere,PrinceofLanka?’Vibhishanpreenedatbeingrecognised. ‘It seemsSaptSindhuansarenotas ignorantof theworldas

manyofusliketoimagine.’Ramsmiledpolitely.Meanwhile,Shurpanakhapulledoutasmallvioletkerchiefandcoveredhernose

delicately. Lakshman noticed her fashionable and manicured finger nails, each one shaped like awinnowingbasket.Thatwas perhaps the root of her name.ShurpawasOldSanskrit for awinnowingbasket.Andnakhameantnails.‘Well,evenIrespectandunderstandthewaysoftheSaptSindhuans,’saidVibhishan.SitawatchedShurpanakha,hawk-eyed,astheladycontinuedtostareatherhusband.Unabashedly.Up

close, itwas clear that themagic of Shurpanakha’s eyes lay in their startling colour: bright blue. Shealmost certainly had some HiranyalomanMlechcha blood. Practically nobody east of Egypt had blueeyes. Shewas bathed in fragrant perfume that overpowered the rustic, animal smell of the Panchavaticamp;atleastforthoseinhervicinity.Notoverpoweringenoughforher,evidently.Shecontinuedtoholdthestenchofhersurroundingsatbay,withthekerchiefpressedagainsthernose.‘Wouldyouliketocomeinside,toourhumbleabode?’askedRam,gesturingtowardsthehut.‘No,thankyou,YourHighness,’saidVibhishan.‘I’mcomfortablehere.’Jatayu’spresencehadthrownhimoff-guard.Vibhishanwasunwillingtoencounterothersurprisesthat

may lie in store for them,within the closed confines of the hut. Before they came to some negotiated

terms.HewasthebrotheroftheenemyoftheSaptSindhu,afterall.Itwassaferhere,outintheopen;fornow.‘Allrightthen,’saidRam.‘TowhatdoweowethehonourofavisitfromtheprinceofgoldenLanka?’Shurpanakhaspokeinahusky,alluringvoice.‘Handsomeone,wecometoseekrefuge.’‘I’mnotsureIunderstand,’saidRam,momentarilyflummoxedbytheallusiontohisgoodlooksbya

womanhedidnotknow.‘Idon’tthinkwearecapableofhelpingtherelativesof…’‘Who else canwe go to, OGreat One?’ askedVibhishan. ‘Wewill never be accepted in the Sapt

SindhubecauseweareRaavan’ssiblings.ButwealsoknowthattherearemanyintheSaptSindhuwhowillnotdenyyou.MysisterandIhavesufferedRaavan’sbrutaloppressionfortoolong.Weneededtoescape.’Ramremainedsilent.‘KingofAyodhya,’continuedVibhishan,‘ImaybefromLankabutIam,infact,likeoneofyourown.I

honouryourways,followyourpath.I’mnotliketheotherLankans,blindedbyRaavan’simmensewealthinto following his demonic path. And Shurpanakha is just like me. Don’t you think you have a dutytowardsus,too?’Sitacut in. ‘Anancientpoetonceremarked,“When theaxeentered theforest, the treessaid toeach

other:donotworry,thehandleinthataxeisoneofus.”’Shurpanakhasniggered.‘SothegreatdescendantofRaghuletshiswifemakedecisionsforhim,isit?’Vibhishan touchedShurpanakha’shand lightly and she fell silent. ‘QueenSita,’ saidVibhishan, ‘you

willnoticethatonlythehandleshavecomehere.Theaxe-headisinLanka.Wearetrulylikeyou.Pleasehelpus.’Shurpanakha turned to Jatayu. It had not escaped her notice that, as usual, every man was gaping

intentlyather;everyman,thatis,exceptRamandLakshman.‘GreatMalayaputra,don’tyouthinkitisinyourinteresttogiveusrefuge?WecouldtellyoumoreaboutLankathanyoualreadyknow.Therewillbemoregoldinitforyou.’Jatayustiffened.‘WearethefollowersofLordParshuRam!Wearenotinterestedingold.’‘Right…’saidShurpanakha,sarcastically.Vibhishan appealed toLakshman. ‘WiseLakshman, please convince your brother. I’m sure youwill

agreewithmewhenIsaythatwecanbeofusetoyouinyourfightwhenyougetback.’‘Icouldagreewithyou,PrinceofLanka,’saidLakshman,smiling,‘butthenwewouldbothbewrong.’Vibhishanlookeddownandsighed.‘PrinceVibhishan,’saidRam,‘Iamtrulysorrybut—’Vibhishan interruptedRam. ‘SonofDashrath, remember thebattleofMithila.MybrotherRaavan is

yourenemy.Heismyenemyaswell.Shouldn’tthatmakeyoumyfriend?’Ramkeptquiet.‘GreatKing,wehaveputourlivesatriskbyescapingfromLanka.Can’tyouletusbeyourguestsfora

while?We will leave in a few days. Remember what the TaittiriyaUpanishad says: “Athithi DevoBhava”. Even themanySmritis say that the strong should protect theweak.All we are asking for isshelterforafewdays.Please.’SitalookedatRam.Andsighed.Alawhadbeeninvoked.Sheknewwhatwasgoingtohappennext.

SheknewRamwouldnotturnthemawaynow.‘Justafewdays,’pleadedVibhishan.‘Please.’Ram touched Vibhishan’s shoulder. ‘You can stay here for a few days; rest for a while, and then

continueonyourjourney.’VibhishanfoldedhishandstogetherintoaNamasteandsaid,‘GlorytothegreatclanofRaghu.’

Chapter31

‘Thereisnosaltinthisfood,’complainedShurpanakha.ItwasthefirsthourofthefourthpraharandthoseinthePanchavaticamphadsettleddownfortheir

eveningmeal.IthadbeenSita’sturntocook.WhileRam,Lakshman,andtherestwereenjoyingthefood,Shurpanakha had found much to complain about. The lack of salt was just the latest in a litany ofcomplaints.‘BecausethereisnosaltinPanchavati,princess,’saidSita,tryingveryhardtobepatient.‘Wemakedo

withwhatwehave.Thisisnotapalace.Youcanchoosetostayhungry,ifthefoodisnottoyourliking.’‘Thisfoodisworthyofdogs!’mutteredShurpanakhaindisgust,asshethrewthemorseloffoodshehad

inherhandbackontheplate.‘Thenitshouldbejustrightforyou,’saidLakshman.Everyoneburstoutlaughing.EvenVibhishan.ButRamwasnotamused.HelookedatLakshmansternly.

Lakshmanlookedathisbrotherindefiance,thenshookhisheadandwentbacktoeating.Shurpanakhapushedherplateawayandstormedout.‘Shurpa…’saidVibhishan,asifinentreaty.Thenhetoogotupandranafterhissister.RamlookedatSita.Sheshruggedhershouldersandcontinuedeating.

Anhourlater,SitaandRamwereintheirhut.Bythemselves.WhilenoLankanexceptShurpanakhahadbeentroublesome,LakshmanandJatayuremainedsuspicious

of them. They had disarmed the visitors and locked their weapons in the camp armoury. They alsomaintainedastrictandstaggered twenty-four-hourvigil,keepingaconstantwatchon theguests. ItwasJatayu’sandMakrant’sturntostayupallnightandkeepguard.‘Thatspoiltprincessfanciesyou,’saidSita.Ramshookhishead,hiseyesclearlyconveyinghethoughtthissilly.‘Howcanshe,Sita?Sheknows

I’mmarried.Whyshouldshefindmeattractive?’Sitalaydownnexttoherhusbandonthebedofhay.‘Youshouldknowthatyouaremoreattractivethan

yourealise.’Ramlaughed.‘Nonsense.’Sitalaughedaswellandputherarmsaroundhim.‘Butyouaremine.Onlymine.’‘Yes,MyLady,’saidRam,smilingandputtinghisarmsaroundhiswife.Theykissedeachother,languidandslow.Theforestwasgraduallyfallingsilent,asthoughsettlingin

forthenight.

TheguestshadbeeninPanchavatiwiththeforest-dwellersforaweeknow.Lakshmanand Jatayuhad insistedoncontinuing the staggeredvigil,keepingaconstantwatchon the

guests.

Vibhishanhadannouncedthattheywouldbeleavinginafewhours.ButShurpanakhahadinsistedthatshehadtowashherhairbeforeleaving.ShehadalsodemandedthatSitaaccompanyher.Tohelpherwithherhair.SitahadnointerestingoingwithShurpanakha.ButshewantedtogetridofthespoiltLankanprincess

assoonaspossible.Thishadencouragedhertosayyes.Shurpanakhahadinsistedontakingtheboatandgoingalongwaydownriver.‘Don’tthinkI’mnotawarethatyourdisgustingcamp-followershavebeentakingtheopportunitytospy

onmeatmybathtime!’Shurpanakhasaidwithpretendedoutrage.Sitagrimacedandtookadeepbreath,notsayinganything.‘Not your goody-goody husband, of course,’ said Shurpanakha, coquettishly. ‘He has eyes only for

you.’Sita,stillsilent,gotintotheboat,withShurpanakhaclimbingindaintily.SitawaitedforShurpanakha

topickuponeoftheoars.Butshejustsatthere,admiringhernails.Gruntingangrily,Sitapickedupboththeoarsandstartedrowing.Ittookalongtime.SitawasirritatedandtiredbeforeShurpanakhadirectedherintoasmallhiddenlagoonbytheriver,whereshewantedtobathe.‘Goahead,’saidSita.Assheturnedaroundandwaited.Shurpanakhadisrobedslowly,putallherclothesintotheclothbagshehadcarriedanddivedintothe

water.Sitasettledback,herheadonthesternthwart,herbodystretchedoutonthebottomboards,andwaited.Feelinguncomfortableaftersometime,Sitapulledupsomejutesacks,bundledthemtogetherintoapillowontheplankandrestedherheadagain.Thelazydaylightfilteringthroughthedensefoliagewascalmingherdownslowly,lullinghertosleep.Shelosttrackoftimeasshefellintoashortnap.Aloudbirdcallwokeherup.SheheardShurpanakhafrolickinginthewater.Shewaitedforwhatshethoughtwasareasonabletime.

Finally,Sitaedgeduponherelbows.‘Areyoudone?Doyouwantyourhairuntangledandtied?’ShurpanakhastoppedswimmingforabitandfacedSitawithalookofuttercontemptanddisgust.‘I’m

notlettingyoutouchmyhair!’Sita’seyesflewopeninanger.‘Thenwhythehelldidyouaskmetocomeh…’‘Icouldn’thavecomeherealonenow,couldI,’interruptedShurpanakha,likeshewasexplainingthe

mostobvious thing in theworld. ‘And, Iwasn’tabout tobringoneof themenalong.Lord Indraaloneknowswhattheywoulddoiftheysawmeinthisstate.’‘Theywoulddrownyou,hopefully,’mutteredSita,underherbreath.‘Whatdidyousay?’snappedShurpanakha.‘Nothing.Finishyourbathquickly.Yourbrotherwantstoleavetoday.’‘MybrotherwillleavewhenItellhimwecanleave.’Sita saw Shurpanakha looking into the forest beyond the banks of the lagoon. Sita followed

Shurpanakha’sgaze.Thensheshookherheadinirritation.‘Nobodyhasfollowedushere.Noonecanseeyou.Inthenameofallthatisgoodandholy,finishyourbath!’Shurpanakhadidn’tbothertoanswer.CastingSitaacontemptuouslook,sheturnedandswamaway.Sitaheldherfisttoherforeheadandrepeatedsoftlytoherself.‘Breathe.Breathe.She’sleavingtoday.

Justbreathe.’Shurpanakhacontinuedtostealglancesattheforest.Shecouldn’tseeanyone.Shemutteredunderher

breath,‘Noneoftheseidiotsarereliable.Ihavetodoeverythingmyself.’

AtthePanchavaticamp,VibhishanhadcometospeaktoRam.‘Greatone,’saidVibhishan,‘youknowweareleavingsoon.Isitpossibletoreturnourweaponstous

sothatwemaygetgoing?’‘Ofcourse,’saidRam.Vibhishan looked at Jatayu and hisMalayaputras a short distance away, then in the direction of the

Godavari,thegreatriverhiddenbythedensefoliage.Hisheartwasbeatingfast.Ihopetheyhavereached.

‘Enough!’ said Sita, in irritation. ‘You’re as clean as you can be.Get out of thewater now.We’releaving.’Shurpanakhalookedonceagainintotheforests.Sitapickedtheoars.‘I’mleaving.Youcanchoosetostayorcomealong.’Shurpanakhashriekedinanger,butsurrendered.

Sitarowedtheboatbackinshortorder.Itwasaten-minuteuphillwalkthereaftertothecamp.ShewaitedforShurpanakhatostepoutoftheboat.Sitadidn’texpect,norget,anyhelpfromShurpanakhatopulltheboatontothebankssothatitcouldbe

tiedsecurelytoatreewithahemprope.ShurpanakhawasbehindSitaasshebent,wrappedtheboat-ropearoundherrighthand,heldontothegunwaleoftheboat,andbegantotug.Focused as shewas onher task, aswell as the physical strain of pulling a boat up the bank all by

herself,shedidn’tnoticeShurpanakhareachintoherbag,pulloutsomeherbsandcreepuponher.Shurpanakhausedaspecifickindofsoapandperfumethatshehadcarriedwithherforherbath.Ithad

adistinctivefragrance.Verydifferentfromtheferalsmellofthejungle.ItwasthissmellthatsavedSita.Shereactedalmostimmediately,lettinggoofftheboat.JustasShurpanakhajumpedatherandtriedto

stufftheherbsintoSita’smouth,sheturnedandhittheLankanprincesshardwithherelbow.Shurpanakhafellback,screaminginagony.SitalungedforwardtowardstheprincessofLankabuttheropewrappedaroundherwristmadeherlosebalance.Sensinganopportunity,ShurpanakhapushedSitaintothewater.ButasSitafell,sheelbowedtheprincessofLankaagain.ShurpanakharecoveredquicklyandjumpedintothewaterafterSita,tryingagaintopushtheherbsintohermouth.Sita was taller, tougher and more agile than the posh Shurpanakha. She pushed Shurpanakha hard,

flinginghersomedistanceaway.Shespatout theherbs,quicklypulledoutherknifefromthescabbardand cut the rope loose. She glanced at the herbs floating in the water, recognising them almostimmediately.ShepushedthroughthewatertoreachShurpanakha.Shurpanakha,meanwhile,hadrecovered.SheswamtowardsSitaandtriedtohitherwithherfists.Sita

grabbedandheldbothherwristsinherlefthand;thenyankedhardtilltheprincessofLankawasforcedtoturnaround.ThenSitawrappedherarmaroundShurpanakha’sthroat,holdingherhardagainstherownbody.ThenSitabroughttheknifeclosetoShurpanakha’sthroat.‘Onemoremove,youspoiltbrat,andIwill

bleedyoutodeath.’Shurpanakhafellsilentandstoppedstruggling.Sitapushedtheknifebackinitsscabbard.Thenusedthe

remnants of the rope aroundher ownwrist to restrainShurpanakha’s hands.ShepulledShurpanakha’sangvastramandtieditacrosshermouth.ShereachedintoShurpanakha’sbagandfoundsomemoreoftheherbs.‘I’llpushthisintoyourmouthifyoumakeanymoretrouble.’

Shurpanakharemainedquiet.Sitastarteddragginghertowardsthecamp.Ashortdistancefromthecamp,theangvastramacrossShurpanakha’smouthcamelooseandfellaway.

Sheimmediatelybeganscreaming.‘Stayquiet!’shoutedSita,draggingheralong.Shurpanakha,though,keptscreamingatthetopofhervoice.Ashortwhilelater,theyemergedfromthewoods.Sitatall,regalbutdrippingwetandfurious.Muscles

ripplingwith the strainof draggingShurpanakha along.TheLankanprincess’ hands remained securelytied.RamandLakshmanimmediatelydrewtheirswords,asdideveryoneelsepresent.The younger prince ofAyodhyawas the first to find his voice. Looking atVibhishan accusingly, he

demanded,‘Whatthehellisgoingon?’Vibhishan couldn’t take his eyes off the two women. He seemed genuinely shocked, but quickly

gatheredhiswits and replied. ‘What is your sister-in-lawdoing tomy sister?She is theonewhohasclearlyattackedShurpanakha.’‘Stopthisdrama!’shoutedLakshman.‘Bhabhiwouldnotdothisunlessyoursisterattackedherfirst.’SitawalkedintothecircleofpeopleandletgoofShurpanakha.TheLankanprincesswasclearlylivid

andoutofcontrol.Vibhishanimmediatelyrushedtohissister,drewaknifeandcuttheropesthatboundher.Hewhispered

intoherear.‘Letmehandlethis.Stayquiet.’ShurpanakhaglaredatVibhishan.Likethiswasallhisfault.SitaturnedtoRamandgesturedtowardsShurpanakha.Sheheldoutsomeherbsinthepalmofherhand.

‘ThatpipsqueakLankanstuffedthisinmymouthasshepushedmeintotheriver!’Ramrecognisedtheherbs.Theywerenormallyusedtorenderpeopleunconsciousbeforesurgeries.He

lookedatVibhishan,hispiercingeyesredwithanger.‘Whatisgoingon?’Vibhishan stood up immediately, his manner placatory. ‘There has obviously been some

misunderstanding.Mysisterwouldneverdosomethinglikethat.’‘AreyousuggestingthatIimaginedherpushingmeintothewater?’askedSita,aggressively.VibhishanstaredatShurpanakha,whohadalsostoodupbynow.Heseemedtobepleadingwithherto

bequiet.Buttheentreatywasclearlylostintransmission.‘Thatisalie!’screechedShurpanakha.‘Ididn’tdoanythinglikethat!’‘Areyoucallingmealiar?’growledSita.What happened next was so sudden that very few had the time to react. With frightening speed,

Shurpanakhareachedtohersideanddrewherknife.Lakshman,whowasstandingtotheleftofSita,sawthequickmovementandrushedforward,screaming,‘Bhabhi!’Sitamovedquickly togetoutof thewayandavoid thestrike. In thatsplit second,Lakshman lunged

forwardandbangedintoachargingShurpanakha,seizingbothherarmsandpushingherbackwithallhisbrutestrength.TheelfinprincessofLankawentflyingback.Herownhand,whichheldtheknife,struckherfaceasshecrashedintotheLankansoldierswhostoodtransfixedbehindher.Theknifehitherfacehorizontally,cuttingdeepintohernose.Itfellfromherhandasshelaysprawledontheground,theshockhavingnumbedanysensationofpain.Asbloodgushedoutalarmingly,herconsciousmindassertedcontrol.Shetouchedherfaceandlooked

atherbloodstainedhands.Thehorrorofitallreverberatedthroughherbeing.Sheknewshewouldbeleftwithdeepscarsonherface.Painfulsurgerieswouldberequiredtoremovethem.She screechedwith savage hate and lunged forward again, this time going forLakshman.Vibhishan

rushedtoherandcaughtholdofhisrage-maddenedsister.‘Killthem!’screamedShurpanakha.‘Killthemall!’

‘Wait!’ pleadedVibhishan, strickenwith visceral fear. He knew theywere outnumbered. He didn’twanttodie.Andhefearedsomethingevenworsethandeath.‘Wait!’Ramhelduphislefthand,hisfistclosedtight,signallinghispeople tostopbutbeonguard.‘Leave

now,prince.Ortherewillbehelltopay.’‘Forgetwhatweweretold!’screechedShurpanakha.‘Killthemall!’Ram spoke to a clearly stunnedVibhishan,who held on to a strugglingShurpanakha for all hewas

worth.‘Leavenow,PrinceVibhishan.’‘Retreat,’whisperedVibhishan.Hissoldiersbegantowithdraw,theirswordsstillpointedinthedirectionoftheforest-dwellers.‘Killthem,youcoward!’Shurpanakhalashedout.‘Iamyoursister!Avengeme!’VibhishandraggedaflailingShurpanakha,hiseyeonRam.Mindfulofanysuddenmovement.‘Killthem!’shoutedShurpanakha.VibhishancontinuedtopullhisprotestingsisterawayastheLankansleftthecampandescapedfrom

Panchavati.Ram,LakshmanandSitastoodrootedtotheirspot.Whathadhappenedwasanunmitigateddisaster.‘Wecannotstayhereanymore,’Jatayustatedtheobvious.‘Wedon’thaveachoice.Weneedtoflee,

now.’RamlookedatJatayu.‘WehaveshedLankan royalblood,even if it is thatof the royal rebels,’ saidJatayu. ‘According to

theircustomarylaw,Raavanhasnochoicebuttorespond.ItwouldbethesameamongmanySaptSindhuroyalsaswell,isn’tit?Raavanwillcome.Havenodoubtaboutthat.Vibhishanisacoward,butRaavanandKumbhakarnaaren’t.Theywillcomewith thousandsof soldiers.Thiswillbeworse thanMithila.There itwas a battle between soldiers; a part and parcel ofwar; they understood that. But here it ispersonal.Hissister,amemberofhisfamily,hasbeenattacked.Bloodwasshed.Hishonourwilldemandretribution.’Lakshmanstiffened.‘ButIdidn’tattackher.She—’‘That’snothowRaavanwillseeit,’interruptedJatayu.‘Hewillnotquibblewithyouoverthedetails,

PrinceLakshman.Weneedtorun.Rightnow.’

Chapter32

They had been on the run for thirty days. Racing east through theDandakaranya, they had moved areasonabledistanceparalleltotheGodavari,sothattheycouldn’tbeeasilyspottedortracked.Buttheycouldn’t afford to stray too far from the tributary rivers or otherwater bodies, for the best chance ofhuntinganimalswouldbelost.Theyhadbeensurvivingondriedmeatandjungleberriesorleaves,forlong.PerhapstheLankanshad

losttrackofthem,theythought.Withthefrugalfoodandconstantmarching,theirbodieswereweakening.SoRamandLakshmanhadsetouttohunt,whileSitaandtheMalayaputrasoldierMakranthadgonetofetchbananaleaves.Secrecywasoftheessence.Sotheywerecookingtheirfoodinholesdugdeepintotheground.Forfire

theyusedaveryspecifictypeofcoal;anthracite,whichletoutsmokelessflames.Asaddedprecaution,the buried cooking pot was also covered with a thick layer of banana leaves to ensure that even bychance,nosmokeescaped,whichcouldgive theirpositionaway. Itwas for this thatSitaandMakrantwerecuttingbananaleaves.ItwasSita’sturntocook.Unknown to Sita, Raavan’s Pushpak Vimaan had landed a short distance from the camp. Its ear-

splittingnoisedrownedoutby thunderoushowlingwinds.Unseasonalrainshad just lashedthearea.Ahundred Lankan soldiers had disgorged from the Vimaan, attacking the camp and killing most of theMalayaputrasrapidly.SomeLankanshadfannedouttosearchforSita,Ram,andLakshman.TwoofthemhadambushedSita

andMakrant,whowereontheirwaybacktothecamp.Makranthaddied,hitbytwoarrows.Onethroughhis shoulder and the other through his neck. Sita had, through sheer skill, managed to kill these twoLankans, steal theirweapons and reach the camp.There she had found that every singleMalayaputra,exceptforJatayuwasdead.Shehadtried,heroically,tosaveJatayu,buthadfailed.TheNagahadbeengrievouslyinjuredtryingtoprotecttheoneheworshippedastheVishnu.Kumbhakarna, theyoungerbrotherofRaavan,hadordered thatSitawas tobecapturedalive.Many

LankansoldiershadchargedatSitaatthesametime.Shehadfoughtbravely,butwasultimatelycaptured,incapacitatedandrenderedunconsciouswithaLankanblue-colouredtoxin.TheyhadquicklybundledherintothePushpakVimaanandtakenoff,justasRamandLakshmanhad

reachedthecamptofinddeadbodiesstrewneverywhereandtheseverelyinjuredfigureofJatayu.

Sitacouldn’trememberhowlongshehadbeenunconscious.Itmusthavebeenhours.Shestillfeltalittlegroggy.Lightwasstreaminginthroughtheportholewindowsonthewallsofthevimaan.Aconstant,dullrepetitivesoundwascausingherpaininherhead.Ittookhersometimetorealisethatitwasthesoundofthevimaan’srotors,muffledbythesoundproofwalls.Notsoundproofedenough.Sitapressedhertemplestoeasethepaininherhead.Itworkedonlyforafewmoments.Thepainwas

backsoon.Thensherealisedsomethingodd.

Myhandsaren’ttied.Shelookeddownatherlegs.Theyweren’ttiedeither.Shefeltherhopesrise.Almostimmediately,itdeflatedandshelaughedsoftlyatherownstupidity.WhereamIplanningtogo?I’mthousandsoffeetupinthesky.Thatbluetoxinhasmademeslow.Sheshookherheadslowly.Tryingtoclearit.Shewasonastretcherfastenedontoaplatformclosetothewall.Shelookedaround.Thevimaanwastrulyhuge.Shelookedup.Itwasperfectlyconicalfromtheinside

aswell.Smoothmetalallthewaytothetaperingtop,highup.Therewasapaintingatthesummit.Hervisionwasalittlecloudedsoshecouldn’tseewhatitwas.Attheexactcentreofthevimaanwasatall,perfectlycylindricalpillar,stretchingallthewaytothetop.Itwassolidmetal,obviouslysturdy.Shefeltlike shewas insideagiant temple spire.But the interiors,while spaciousandcomfortable,had frugalfurnishing.Noneoftheluxuriousandexpensiveaccoutrementsofmostroyalvehicles;oratleasttheroyalvehicles in theSaptSindhu.ThePushpakVimaanwasbasic, sparse, and efficient.Clearly,moreof amilitaryvehiclethanoneforpompandshow.Because it placed function over form, thePushpak Vimaan was able to comfortably accommodate

more thanahundredsoldiers.Theyall sat silently,disciplined, in regularconcentricarcson the floor,rightuptothevimaanwalls.She could seeRaavan andKumbhakarna seated on chairs that had been fastened to the floor.Their

seatingareahadbeenscreenedpartially.Acurtainhungfromanoverhangingrod.Theyweren’ttoofar.Buttheywhispered.So,Sitacouldnothearmuchofwhattheyweresaying.Stillonthestretcher,shecameuponherelbows.Makingaheavingsound.Shestillfeltweak.RaavanandKumbhakarnaturnedtolookather.Theygotupandstartedwalkingtowardsher.Raavan

stumbledonhisdhoti.Distracted.Sitahadmanagedtositupbynow.Shesuckedinherbreathandlookeddefiantlyatthetwobrothers.‘Killmenow,’growledSita.‘Otherwise,youwillregretit.’AlltheLankansoldiersstoodup,drawingtheirweapons.ButatasignalfromKumbhakarna,theyheld

theirpositions.Kumbhakarnaspoke,surprisinglygently,‘Wedon’twanttohurtyou.Youmustbetired.Youwokeup

veryquickly.Thetoxingiventoyouwasstrong.Pleaserest.’Sitadidn’tanswer.SurprisedbyKumbhakarna’skindtone.‘Wedidn’tknow,’saidahesitantKumbhakarna.‘I…Ididn’tknow.Wewouldn’thaveusedthattoxin

otherwise…’Sitaremainedsilent.ThensheturnedtowardsRaavan.Hewasjuststaringather.Unblinking.Therewassadnessonhisface.

Melancholy.And,hiseyesappearedstrange.Almostliketherewasloveinthem.Sitashranktothewall,pullingherangvastram,coveringherself.Suddenly,ahandappeared.Aneemleaf.And,theblue-colouredpaste.Hernose.Sitafeltdarknessenvelopinghervision.Slowly.ShesawRaavan looking toSita’s right,where thepersonwhohaddruggedherwasstanding.There

wasangeronhisface.And,darknesstookover.

Hereyesopened.

Diffusedlightstreamedthroughtheportholewindows.Thesunwasclosetothehorizon.HowlonghaveIbeenunconscious?Sitacouldn’tbesure.Wasitafewhours?Ormanyprahars?Sheedgedup,again.Slowly.Weakly.Shecouldseethatmostofthesoldierswereasleeponthefloor.Buttherewerenosoldiersaroundtheplatformwhereshehadbeensleeping.Shehadbeenleftalone.Raavan andKumbhakarnawere standing near their chairs. Stretching their legs.Whispering to each

other.Her vision cleared slowly.Allowing her to judge the distance.Raavan andKumbhakarnawere not

morethanfifteenortwentyfeetfromher.TheirbackstoSita.Theywereindeepconversation.Sitalookedaround.Andsmiled.Someonehasbeencareless.Therewasaknife lyingcloseby.On theplatformwhereher stretcherwasaffixed.Sheedgedover.

Noiselessly.Carefully. Picked up the scabbard and unsheathed the blade. Slowly.Withoutmaking anysound.Sheheldtheknifetightinherhand.Shetooksomedeepbreaths.Firingenergyintoherbody.Sherememberedwhatshehadheard.KillthechiefandtheLankanscapitulate.Shetriedtogetup.Theworldspunaroundher.Shesatbackontheplatform.Breathingdeeper.Firingmoreoxygenintoherbody.Then,shefocused.ShegotupstealthilyandcrepttowardsRaavan.WhenshewasjustafewfeetfromRaavan’sback,sheraisedherknifeandlungedforward.A loud screamwas heard as someone grabbed Sita from behind.An arm around her neck.A knife

pressedclosetoherthroat.Sitacouldfeelthatherattackerwasawoman.RaavanandKumbhakarnawhirledaroundalmostimmediately.MostoftheLankansoldiersgotuptoo.Kumbhakarnaraisedhishandsslowly.Carefully.Hespokeinacalmbutcommandingvoice.‘Dropthe

knife.’Sitafeltthearmaroundherthroattighten.Shecouldseethatbynow,alltheLankansoldierswereon

theirfeet.Shesurrenderedanddroppedherknife.Kumbhakarnarepeated.Alittleharsherthistime.‘Isaid,droptheknife.’Sitaknitherbrow.Confused.Shelookeddownattheknifeshehaddropped.Shewasabouttosaythat

she had no other knife,when she felt a prick on her neck. The attacker, holding her frombehind, hadbroughttheknifeincloser.Itstipdrawingblood.KumbhakarnalookedatRaavanbeforeturningbacktotheattackerholdingSita.‘Kharaisdead.This

willnotbringhimback.Don’tbesilly.Iamorderingyou.Droptheknife.’Sita could feel the arm clasped around her neck tremble. Her attacker was struggling with deep

emotions.Finally,Raavan stepped closer and spoke in aharsh, commanding, almost terrifying tone. ‘Drop the

knife.Now.’Sitafeltthearmclaspedaroundherthroatrelax.Itwassuddenlypulledback.Andasoftwhisperwas

heard.‘Asyoucommand,Iraiva.’Sitawasstunnedassheheardthevoice.Shespunaround.Staggered.Shefellback,holdingthewallof

thevimaanforsupport.Willingbreathsintoherbody,shelookedagainatthefaceofherattacker.Theonewhohadwantedto

kill her a few moments ago. The one who obviously had strong emotions for Khara. The one who

obviouslywasunderthecompletecontrolofRaavan.Theonewhohadsavedherlifeonce…Theoneshehadthoughtwasherfriend.Samichi.

…tobecontinued.

OtherTitlesbyAmish

ShivaTrilogy

RamChandraSeries